Luís Vaz de Camões (Portuguese pronunciation: [luˈiʒ ˈvaʒ ðɨ kaˈmõjʃ]; sometimes rendered in English as Camoens English pronunciation: /ˈkæm oʊˌənz/; c. 1524 – 10 June 1580) is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads). His recollection of poetry The Parnasum of Luís de Camões was lost in his lifetime. The influence of his masterpiece "Os Lusíadas" in Portuguese is so profound that it is called the "language of Camões".