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his dramatic works, Shakespeare has provided insights into human nature which, in the opinion of many of his disciples, equal those of the greatest modern psychologists. The impact of the Bard's insights is compounded by a masterful use of the language which makes him the mostly widely studied English writer. Church records indicate that William Shakespeare was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire on April 26, 1564. April 23 is widely accepted as his date of birth. His father was a respected tradesman (a glover who was involved in a variety of commercial activities) who held several important municipal offices. Shakespeare was probably educated at the local grammar school. He would have viewed local theatrical productions by groups of travelling players. When he was eighteen he married the twenty-six year old Anne Hathaway. In May of 1583 she gave birth to their first daughter, Susanna. In 1585, twins, named Hamnet and Judith, were born. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare left Stratford. It is speculated that he was fleeing prosecution for poaching deer on the property of a local nobleman. By about 1587 he had arrived in London and begun his career as an actor and playwright. His success earned him the jealousy of rivals such as Richard Greene who condemned him as "an upstart crow" in 1592. The following is a chronological listing of Shakespeare's canon of plays and poetry: 1588-93 - The Comedy of Errors 1588-92 - Henry VI (three parts) 1592-93 - Richard III 1592-94 - Titus Andronicus 1593-94 - The Taming of the Shrew 1593-94 - The Two Gentlemen of Verona 1593-94 - "The Rape of Lucrece" 1593-1600 - "Sonnets" 1588-95 - Love's Labor's Lost 1594-96 - Romeo and Juliet 1595 - Richard II 1594-96 - A Midsummer Night's Dream 1590-97 - King John 1592 - "Venus and Adonis" 1596-97 - The Merchant of Venice 1597 - Henry IV (Part I) 1597-98 - Henry IV (Part II) 1598-1600 - Much Ado About Nothing 1598-99 - Henry V 1599 - Julius Caesar 1599-1600 - As You Like It 1600-02 - Twelfth Night 1600-OI - Hamlet 1597-1601 - The Merry Wives of Windsor 1600-OI - "The Phoenix and the Turtle" 160I-02 - Troilus and Cressida 1602-04 - All's Well That Ends Well 1603-04 - Othello 1604 - Measure for Measure 1604-09 - Timon of Athens 1605-06 - King Lear 1605-06 - Macbeth 1606-07 - Antony and Cleopatra 1607-09 - Coriolanus 1608-09 - Pericles 1609-IO - Cymbeline 16IO-II - The Winter's Tale 16II - The Tempest 16I2-I3 - Henry VIII 16I3 - The Two Noble Kinsmen In 1594, Shakespeare joined The Chamberlain's Men, a theatrical company which enjoyed the patronage of the royal court.