5. Выдающиеся люди Великобритании William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Уильям Шекспир

   William Shakespeare, the greatest dramatist and writer, was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. His father was a glover and his mother was the daughter of a famous farmer. Shakespeare went to grammar school, but he never entered any university. He is famous for his great tragedies including Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and the best known love story in the world Romeo and Juliet.

   Many well-known sayings come from his works, and Shakespeare also had a great influence on English literature and the language. His plays are studied by British schoolchildren as part of their school programme.

   Shakespeare's works are known for their beautiful language and for the understanding of how people think and feel. William Shakespeare also wrote poetry, including the sonnets. He worked as an actor and a playwright at the Globe Theatre in London, which has recently been rebuilt as a copy of the original theatre.

   Shakespeare married once and had three children. After his death in 1616 his house in Stratford became a museum and now it is a popular place with tourists. Shakespeare's plays were staged in many theatres and translated into numerous languages. They are still read and loved by many people.

Alexander Bell (1847-1922) Александр Бэлл

   Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone. He was born in Scotland in 1874. Bell entered the University of Edinburgh and became a teacher. Later he decided to become a doctor and he entered the medical department at the University of London.

   Then Bell left for the USA and studied sounds there. An idea of inventing a special machine for deaf people occurred to him. Working on this machine he invented the telephone in 1876. At first the telephone was not popular with the public, but after a big campaign it became famous in America. Bell started the Bell Telephone Company to produce telephones.

   Alexander Bell also improved the telegraph which could send more than one message at a time. Later he gave up his business and spent his money on other scientific research. He also founded the National Geographic Society in 1888.

   Bell died in 1922 in Canada respected both in Britain and the USA.

Robert Burns (1759-1796) Роберт Бернс

   Robert Burns, a well-known Scottish poet, was born in 1759 into a poor family of a farmer. He was the eldest child of the seven in the family. Robert's mother knew a lot of folk tales and she used to tell them to the children. At the age of six Burns went to school because his father wanted him to be an educated person. The boy liked reading and read a lot. William Shakespeare was his favourite writer. When Robert was fifteen he started writing poems about common people and things around him.

   Later he organized a society for young people where they could discuss different problems. After his father's death, Robert had to work a small farm, but then he sold it and became an officer. At the age of twenty-seven Burns published his book of poems called Poems.

   He also wrote the words of the song Auld Lang Syne, the song which the Scots sing on New Year's Day. Robert Bums died in 1796 in poverty, but people all over the world know and love his poetry. Scottish people all over the world celebrate his birthday on January 25, called Burns Night.