Description
Book SynopsisThe issue has even been debated in a moot court before three justices of the Supreme Court--with an intriguing outcome.
Whalen's book is the first to provide a clear, concise, readable summary for the general reader, one that analyzes the main arguments for both the man from Stratford-on-Avon and the earl of Oxford.
Trade ReviewThis great literary mystery will simply not go away: Were the plays and poems attributed to Will Shakspear, the glover's son from Stratford-upon-Avon, really written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford? The general reader is well served by Whalen's presentation of both sides of the argument. The annotated bibliography, which is the only one of its kind available, is extremely useful for readers who wish to pursue further research. * Library Journal *
Whalen's main asset is his plain compare-and-contrast briefing ability: all the issues of evidence and inference are clearly stated. Whalen fairly notes the vulnerabilities in Oxford-as-author, such as the dating difficulty: several of the plays were published after the earl's death in 1604. A piece by noted cold warrior Paul Nitze prefaces this esay introduction to the case. * Booklist/Adult Nonfiction *
Whalen examines the great debate over Shakespeare's identity by offering convincing evidence that Edward de Vere, the seventeenth East of Oxford, was actually the author of Shakespeare's works. A lucid discussion, suggested for English literature students. * Booklist/Adult Books for Young Adults *
Table of ContentsForeword by Paul H. Nitze Preface
The Incumbent: The Man from Stratford A Strikingly Mundane Life The Missing Literary Evidence Shakspere versus Shakespeare The Case for Will Shakspere as Author The Ambiguous Testimony of the First Folio
The Leading Challenger: The Earl of Oxford The Search for the True Author Oxford's Literary Life The Case for Oxford as Author Oxford's Life Span and Dating the Plays Oxford Revealed in Shakespeare's Plays Objections to Oxford as Shakespeare Resolving the Authorship Issue Appendix A: Records of Will Shakspere's Theater Activities Appendix B: "Shake-scene," Groatsworth, and Chettle Appendix C: Ben Jonson's Notebook, Timber Appendix D: The Benezet Test Notes Select, Annotated Bibliography for Further Reading Index
