SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. Writing 39 plays and 154 sonnets, he profoundly influenced English literature and with works like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth he is often called the English national poet and is considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.
BOOKS
WHAT OTHERS SAY
“He breathed upon dead bodies and brought them into life. Nor sequent centuries could hit Orbit and sum of Shakespeare’s wit.”
American essayist and philosopher
“If I say that Shakespeare is the greatest of intellects, I have said all concerning him. But there is more in Shakespeare’s intellect than we have yet seen. It is what I call an unconscious intellect; there is more virtue in it that he himself is aware of.”
Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopher
“He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. But Shakespeare’s magic could not copied be; Within that circle none durst walk but he. He was naturally learned; he needed not the spectacles of books to read nature. He looked inwards, and found her there.”
English poet, literary critic, and playwright
“If we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning we may study his commentators.”
English essayist and drama and literary critic
“Wonderful women! Have you ever thought how much we all, and women especially, owe to Shakespeare for his vindication of women in these fearless, high-spirited, resolute and intelligent heroines?”
Leading English actress,
late 19th and early 20th centuries
“We can say of Shakespeare, that never has a man turned so little knowledge to such great account.”
Poet, essayist and playwright