Timon of Athens

William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was a marvelous 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 some collaborations consisting of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, of which the authorship of some is uncertain. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Timon of Athens is a collaborative play by William Shakespeare and perhaps Thomas Middleton about the fortunes of an Athenian named Timon (and probably influenced by the philosopher of the same name). The central character is a well beloved citizen of Athens who through tremendous generosity spends his entire fortunes on corrupt hangers-on only interested in getting the next payout. Timon of Athens is one of Shakespeare's most obscure and least-known works. It was originally grouped with the tragedies, but some scholars name it one of the problem plays. Read this excellent historic play and, probably, you will get your own viewpoint of it.