Another possibility is that he might have been working as an assistant schoolmaster in Lancashire.

Hamnet died in childhood at the age of 11, on August 11, 1596.

For the seven years following the birth of his twins, William Shakespeare disappears from all records, finally turning up again in London some time in 1592. In addition, Shakespeare's ownership share in both the theatrical company and the Globe itself made him as much an entrepeneur as artist.

Others suggest that the fear and uncertainty caused by the plague may have influenced the themes and tone of his work, leading to a greater emphasis on mortality and loss.

Later Life and Retirement

In the early 1600s, William Shakespeare returned to Stratford where he continued to write and became involved in local affairs. Among these are Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale, and The Tempest.

Beginning with the Romantic period of the early 1800s and continuing through the Victorian period, acclaim and reverence for Shakespeare and his work reached its height.

By 1594, he was not only acting and writing for the Lord Chamberlain's Men (called the King's Men after the ascension of James I in 1603), but was a managing partner in the operation as well. They point out that other playwrights of the time also had sketchy histories and came from modest backgrounds.

They contend that King’s New School in Stratford had a curriculum of Latin and the classics could have provided a good foundation for literary writers.

She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. He is credited with inventing or introducing more than 1,700 words to the English language, often as a result of combining words, changing usages, or blending in foreign root words. Carmi has been single for as long as she could remember. This period, known as the "Lost Years," has sparked as much controversy about Shakespeare's life as any period.

William Shakespeare’s Plays

It’s difficult to determine the exact chronology of Shakespeare’s plays, but over the course of two decades, from about 1590 to 1613, he wrote 37 plays revolving around three main themes: history, tragedy, and comedy. Owning the playhouse proved to be a financial boon for Shakespeare and the other investors.

In 1613, the Globe caught fire during a performance of Henry VIII and burned to the ground.

He was an important member of the King’s Men theatrical company from roughly 1594 onward. The ensuing speculation has spawned many interesting theories without producing much hard evidence.

Introducing Mr. William Shakespeare

Leigh T. Denault presents a great succinct biography sketch of Shakespeare.

Searching for Shakespeare

Searching for Shakespeare is an online mseum exhibition curated by the Centre of Archaeology at Staffordshire University in collaboration with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Shakespeare Biography

From Absolute Shakespeare; describes all that is known about Shakespeare's life from available documentation including court and church records, marriage certificates and criticisms by Shakespeare's rivals.

Shakespeare's Biography (Shakespeare Online)

An in-depth and accurate biography of William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare Documented

This is the largest and most authoritative collection of primary-source materials documenting the life of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), bringing together all known manuscript and print references to Shakespeare, his works, and additional references to his family, in his lifetime and shortly thereafter.

Shakespeare's Life (Folger Shakespeare Library)

From the website of the world-renowned Folger Shakespeare Library, the largest collection of Shakespeare materials and other Renaissance works.

Shakespeare's Life and Times

Who was William Shakespeare?

But only two of their three children lived to adulthood. It also helped to elevate his status as a playwright and brought him financial success.

This tragic loss later inspired Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel Hamnet (2020) and its 2025 film adaptation Hamnet, starring Paul Mescal as Shakespeare.

This ongoing reinvention of his works speaks to their enduring relevance and impact on contemporary storytelling.