William Shakespeare, often called 'The Bard of Avon,' is credited with introducing nearly 1,700 words to the English language. He did this by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, and adding prefixes and suffixes. Common words and phrases like 'eyeball,' 'fashionable,' 'manager,' 'lonely,' and 'uncomfortable' all made their first recorded appearances in his plays and sonnets. Beyond individual words, Shakespeare's influence on literature is unparalleled; his works have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. His ability to capture the complexities of the human condition—from the jealousy of Othello to the existential dread of Hamlet—ensures that his stories remain relevant 400 years later. His 'First Folio,' published in 1623, is one of the most valuable books in the world, as it preserved 18 plays that might otherwise have been lost to history.