Was the famous poet and writer really a fraud and plagarist? Was his name really a pseudonym for a well-known contemporary figure? These questions have been debated since the 18th century. The facts about Shakespeare are surprisingly meagre, and contrast puzzlingly with the learned, courtly philosopher revealed in the sonnets and plays. Respected scholars and obsessive eccentrics have put forward many theories, suggesting that the works of Shakespeare were written by Francis Bacon, the Earl of Oxford, or Marlow. This is an ...
Read More
Was the famous poet and writer really a fraud and plagarist? Was his name really a pseudonym for a well-known contemporary figure? These questions have been debated since the 18th century. The facts about Shakespeare are surprisingly meagre, and contrast puzzlingly with the learned, courtly philosopher revealed in the sonnets and plays. Respected scholars and obsessive eccentrics have put forward many theories, suggesting that the works of Shakespeare were written by Francis Bacon, the Earl of Oxford, or Marlow. This is an investigation of the claims and counter-claims, reading like a series of detective stories. He lays out the evidence and the arguments for the various candidates, not forgetting Shakespeare himself, and provides a drily humorous commentary on the research and prejudices of their champions while adding insights of his own.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Stains on pages and the side **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 274 p. Contains: Unspecified. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and previous use. This item may be a former library book with typical markings. No guarantee on products that contain supplements Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Twenty-five year bookseller with shipments to over fifty million happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 274 p. Contains: Unspecified. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 274 p. Contains: Unspecified. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Ships in a BOX from Central Missouri! May not include working access code. Will not include dust jacket. Has used sticker(s) and some writing and/or highlighting. UPS shipping for most packages, (Priority Mail for AK/HI/APO/PO Boxes).
?Who Wrote Shakespeare?? is a wonderful little paperback that invigorates the mind with great speculation on the actual identity of William Shakespeare, and after the last page is turned the reader not only has as little idea of the actual identity of ?Romeo and Juliet?, and ?Hamlet?, but is even more puzzled as to where the truth lies.
John Michell has stuck to the absolute available facts here and has also turned over some lost speculation as to the possible authorship question that today is being fought by the Oxford society and the group of followers who believe that the humble William Shaksper, the bard of Avon, was just, plain and simple, a genius.
The real crux of the matter stems from back in London when William Shaksper, or Shacksper, moved to the big city and started making a name for himself as a dramatist and actor. The fact that, or rather the lack of facts, that there are no books signed with Shakespeare?s name, no one who talks about him as if he existed, and also a charge of plagiarism that was brought against him early in his career, leads to more and more speculation that he was some writer using a pen name, or even a collective of writers using the name William Shakespeare.
Adding to this is the long gap of unrecorded biographical information about Shakespeare and his education makes one wonder even more how he could have written such emotionally informed theatre pieces, with such a vast vocabulary in such a short period of time.
The author brings evidence forward that point to the authorship belonging to Francis Bacon, Edward De Vere, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Johnson, and even Queen Elizabeth. He also theorizes that considering how the language in the Shakespeare plays changed at a certain point in time, Christopher Marlowe perhaps didn?t die from a blade knife to the eye socket, but actually lived on and wrote under the name William Shakespeare.
There are also more than a few pages given to the Oxford theory or that the Earl of Oxford, Edward De Vere was the true identity of William Shakespeare and the author points to the fact that there are plays that show a certain high class life style that only De Vere could have known.
There?s even speculation that Shakespeare may have been the identity and functionary of a central intelligence operative in an agency in Queen Elizabeth?s England and that his plays are riddled, indeed are codified documents containing messages to other secret agents working in the country.
But this book cannot determine the puzzle of the true person that Shakespeare is and was. It remains a Chinese box of cul de sacs, and riddles, and other dead ends. Any theory picked up by the author and explicated is eventually proved only heresay, and we return to the plain and simple fact that William Shaksper went to London and became William Shakespeare, and later moved back to where he came from a wealthy man. He is credited with the authorship of some of the greatest dramatic writing we have ever known.
It is a wonderful mystery story and will guarantee good reading and fuel some good arguments with Shakespeare aficionados.
Scout
Jun 24, 2007
Shakespeare's mystery
The mystery of who actually wrote Shakespeare's masterful works has long been debated. Michell makes a delightful case for a number of possibilities including Christopher Marlowe and a handful of others including actors, writers and noblemen. One of histories mysteries and great whodunits. A fun read through and through. Will leave the reader crying for more.
