Some also point to autobiographical details of Bassano’s life, including the visit to Denmark of members of the household she was raised, a setting made famous in Hamlet. So, too, could the frequent settings in Italy, particularly Venice, with which Bassano obviously had close ties.Įmilia was an uncommon name in Tudor-era England but is used frequently for Shakespeare’s female characters, as are variations of her last name. Historians believe Bassano’s family were likely converted Jews, and the inclusion of Jewish characters and themes, treated in a more positive way than by many other authors of the day, could be explained by Bassano’s authorship. The London-born daughter of Venetian merchants, Bassano was one of the first English women to publish a volume of poetry. More recently, Emilia Bassano has been the focus of renewed research. The sister of poet Philip Sidney, Mary received an advanced classical education, and her time spent at the court of Elizabeth I would have provided ample exposure to the royal politics that played such a key role in Shakespeare’s work. Drawing on what he saw as feminine attributes to subject matter and writing style, as well as the long list of strong, convention-breaking female characters, Slater declared that Shakespeare had likely been a front for Mary Sidney. In the 1930s, author Gilbert Slater proposed that Shakespeare’s work may not have been written by a well-educated nobleman - but by a well-educated noblewoman. Several women have also been forward as potential candidates Or, as the Marlovians believe, to allow Marlowe to assume a new literary career as Shakespeare, whose first work under that name went on sale two weeks after Marlowe’s death. Or to help hide his role as Cecil’s secret agent. Possibly to avoid an arrest warrant for that anti-religious writing. Although a coroner’s inquest conclusively concluded he had been stabbed during an argument in a pub, conspiracies swirl that his death was faked. Marlowe’s mysterious death in May 1593 has led to centuries of speculation. His work undoubtedly influenced a generation of writers, but could he also have been the true author of Shakespeare’s works in addition to his own? Supporters of the Marlovian theory, first popularized in the early 19th century, argue that there are significant similarities in the two writing styles that cannot be overlooked, although modern analysis has called this into dispute. Another contender is Christopher MarloweĪ celebrated playwright, poet and translator, Marlowe was a star of the Tudor age. Despite this and other inconsistencies, De Vere’s defenders remain steadfast, and the Oxfordian theory was explored in the 2011 film, Anonymous. They also point to his family relationship to Arthur Golding, the author of a translation of the ancient Roman poet Ovid’s “Metamorphosis,” a translation which literary scholars agree was highly influential on whoever wrote the Shakespeare works.Ī chief criticism of the Oxford theory is that De Vere died in 1604 - but the accepted Shakespeare chronology indicates that more than a dozen works were published after his death. De Vere also had a lifelong love of history, particularly ancient history, making him well-suited to write dramas such as Julius Caesar. In fact, Tudor officials responsible for ascertaining authorship of plays attributed several works to Shakespeare, Jonson and others, including actors who had performed his plays, paid tribute to him in the years following his death and even helped arrange publication of his works.įor these supporters, De Vere’s extensive travel throughout Europe, including his deep fascination with Italian language and culture, are reflected in the numerous Italian-set works in the Shakespeare canon. There were no public claims during Shakespeare’s lifetime that he was acting as a pseudonym. A number of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, including Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson, came from similarly modest families. If Shakespeare’s worldly wisdom was the result of post-grammar school reading and travel, they argue, where is the evidence that he ever left England? Why was their no public mourning for him when he died? And why does his will, which listed a number of gifts to family and friends, not include a single book from what would presumably be an extensive library?įor those who firmly believe that Shakespeare was the true author of his plays, the Anti-Stratfordians are simply choosing to ignore the facts. Instead, the written records detail more mundane transactions, like his pursuits as an investor and real estate collector. They also note that none of the letters and business documents that survive give any hint of Shakespeare as an author, let alone a one famous during his lifetime.
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