William Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer in the English language, and one of the greatest in Western literature as a whole. Much of his life is unknown, leading to many conspiracy theories concerning his "nonexistence." Many of his plays, such as "Hamlet" and "King Lear," are reworkings of existing stories. Although he is most famous for his dramatic works, he also wrote a cycle of 154 sonnets and several longer epic poems. He died in 1616, and is buried in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon.