William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born to John Shakespeare and mother Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), a collection of sonnets and a variety of other poems.Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor of the University of Birmingham and Chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.Colin Burrow, who teaches English at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, is the author of Epic Romances from Homer to Milton. His edition of The Complete Sonnets and Poems is published in the Oxford Shakespeare series.