In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55, he writes, “Not marble nor the gilded monuments / Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,” and, true to his words, Shakespeare’s lines have lasted through the ages—still studied, memorized, recited, and enjoyed even today.
While some of the details of Shakespeare’s life remain a mystery, April 23, 1616, is generally acknowledged as his date of death; so this year, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary since Shakespeare’s death, his legacy is being celebrated with festivals, parades, theatrical productions, exhibits, and poetry readings throughout England, the United States, and beyond. In honor of the Immortal Bard and his literary legacy, we’ve curated a selection of poems, books, and other resources for this year’s Shakespeare 400 celebration.