Shakespeare, for one, is a renowned English playwright and poet from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is often referred to as the BARD, a four-letter word which is one of the crossword solutions. He is also known as a SONNETEER, a nine-letter word which is the other crossword solution. Shakespeare wrote a total of 38 plays and 154 sonnets, making him one of the most influential writers in history.