William Shakespeare

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Shakespeare's legacy is unparalleled. He is universally recognized as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His works have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. He coined approximately 1,700 words that are still in use today. The First Folio, published in 1623, preserved 36 plays and is one of the most valuable books in the world. In 2013, it was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Shakespeare's influence extends far beyond literature into psychology, philosophy, and popular culture. His phrases, "to be or not to be," "all the world's a stage", are instantly recognizable globally.

AwardsDuring Shakespeare's lifetime, formal awards as we know them did not exist. The highest honor he received was royal patronage: in 1603, his company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, was renamed the King's Men under King James I, making them the official theatrical company of the monarch. After his death, Ben Jonson's preface to the First Folio (1623) hailed him as "not of an age, but for all time." The First Folio itself was a landmark tribute from his peers. Shakespeare is now universally regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, a recognition that transcends any formal award.

Honours & Distinctions

National Poet of England

Public Acclaim·1616

Commonly called England's national poet and the Bard of Avon.

Memorial in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey·1741

A statue of Shakespeare was erected in Poets' Corner, a high honor for literary figures.

UNESCO Memory of the World Register

UNESCO·2013

The First Folio was inscribed on the register as a document of world heritage.

Royal Shakespeare Company

Royal Charter·1960

Major theatrical institution dedicated to performing Shakespeare's works.

Shakespeare's Globe (Reconstruction)

Shakespeare's Globe Trust·1997

A reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre opened in London.

Rankings & Lists

Greatest Writer in the English Language

Consensus·2023

Most-Performed Playwright Worldwide

Various·2023

Magazine Covers

TIME Magazine

2016

400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's Death

National Geographic

2016

Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Myth

Smithsonian Magazine

2016

Shakespeare's World

The New Yorker

2016-04-18

Shakespeare in the Park

Records & Feats

Most-quoted author in the English language

Literary Milestone·1616

Shakespeare is the most-quoted author in English, with phrases from his works permeating everyday speech.

Most translated playwright

Cultural Impact·2023

His works have been translated into every major living language and even into Klingon.

Coined approximately 1,700 English words

Language·1616

Words first documented in his works include 'bedroom,' 'lonely,' 'gloomy,' and 'hint.'