The Two Noble Kinsmen Author:Shakespeare William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) is the most influential writer in English history. Shakespeare has been called The Barb of Avon and England's national poet. There are 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets and 38 plays in his collected works. He began work as an actor and writer in London first writing comedies and historic plays. He later wrote t... more »ragedies. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Othello are some of his more famous plays. Shakespeare collaborated with John Fletcher at the close of his career basing The Two Noble Kinsmen on Chaucer's Knight's Tale. The play addresses the conflict between love and friendship.« less