'William Shakespeare, ... greatest English playwright, was born in 1564 in ... Stratford-upon-Avon in ... England. ... Stratford is ... small country town in ... farming district near ... centre of ... England. ... Avon, which is ... pretty river with ... grass and ... trees all along its banks, runs through ... Stratford, Not much is known of ... Shakespeare's father. He was ... farmer who, at... different times of his life, sold ... meat and bought and sold ... wool. He was poor and was often in ... money difficulties. Very little is known about ... life of his only son William also. ... little house in which ... great writer was born still stands. It is now ... museum. William went to ... school in ... Stratford. In 1586 he went to ... London. Probably ... first work he did there was at one of the two theatres that there were in ... London at that time. Then he became ... actor and soon began to write... plays for ... company of actors to which he belonged. Shakespeare bought... largest house in his home town in 1597, but he did not spend much time there till 1610. He spent ... last years of his life mostly in ... Stratford, but he often visited ... London. He died in 1616.