Shakespeare baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, Eng died april 23 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare also spelled Shakspere, byname Bard of Avon, or Swan of Avon English poet, dramatist, and actor, often called the english national poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time Shakespeare occupies a position unique in world literature. Other poets, such as Homer and Dante, and novelists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Charles Dickens, have transcended national barriers but no writer's living reputation can compare wit ith that of Shakespeare, whose plays, written in the late 16th and earl 17th centuries for a small repertory theatre are now performed and read more often and in more countries than ever before The prophecy of his great contemporary, the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson, that Shakespeare"was not of an age, but for all time s has been fulfilledShakespeare baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, Eng. died April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare also spelled Shakspere, byname Bard of Avon, or Swan of Avon English poet, dramatist, and actor, often called the English national poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time. Shakespeare occupies a position unique in world literature. Other poets, such as Homer and Dante, and novelists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Charles Dickens, have transcended national barriers; but no writer's living reputation can compare with that of Shakespeare, whose plays, written in the late 16th and early 17th centuries for a small repertory theatre, are now performed and read more often and in more countries than ever before. The prophecy of his great contemporary, the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson, that Shakespeare “was not of an age, but for all time,” has been fulfilled