William Shakespeare, born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and other poems. A Midsummer Night's Dream, believed to have been written between 1590-1597, consists of four interconnected plots that take place in an Athenian woodland and the realm of fairies. The plots involve four young Athenian lovers, six amateur actors controlled by fairies, and the wedding of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta that connects the stories. It remains one of Shakespeare's most popular works performed worldwide.