Hamlet

In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet, the famed melancholy Danish Prince is called on by the ghost of his dead father to avenge his murder. Written sometime between 1599 and 1602, it is Shakespeare's longest and best-known play and is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential works in all of literature. The coveted roles of Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude have traditionally been performed by the greatest actors of their days since its premiere.

William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 (baptised) - April 23, 1616) was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the Bard of Avon. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.