The Case For Shakespeare: The End Of The Authorship Question (Google eBook)

Scott Mccrea

Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 280 pages

While gaps in the biographical record for William Shakespeare continue to confound literary scholars, McCrea here concludes that he was, indeed, the playwright and poet we have always thought him to be. This literary forensics case follows the trail of evidence in the historical record and in the plays and poems themselves. It investigates the counterclaims for other authors and the suppositions that the real author of the works must have been a soldier, a scholar, a lawyer, a courtier, and a traveler to Italy. In spirited and fascinating detail, McCrea carefully takes apart the case for other authors and proves the case conclusively.

While gaps in the biographical record for William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon continue to confound literary scholars, McCrea here concludes that he was, indeed, the playwright and poet we have always thought him to be. This literary forensics case follows the trail of evidence in the historical record and in the plays and poems themselves. It investigates the counterclaims for other authors and the suppositions that the real author of the works must have been a soldier, a scholar, a lawyer, a courtier, and a traveler to Italy. In spirited and fascinating detail, McCrea carefully takes apart the case for other authors and proves the case conclusively.

Unlike other books that make the case for one or another candidate for the real Shakespeare, this book makes the case for the Bard of Avon even as it considers the alternative arguments for other authors and presents the evidence against them. Special attention is paid to the leading contender, Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, but like other conspiracy theories, this one is put to rest through a detailed combing of the clues and a convincing presentation of the facts. In the end, readers will be reassured as to the identity of the real Shakespeare, who was, and is, the glover's son from Avon.

What people are saying

Review: The Case for Shakespeare: The End of the Authorship Question

User Review  - Tom Delise - Goodreads

Persuasively makes the case that Shakespeare was the true author of the works attributed to him . . . as if there was any doubt excpet for snobby, uninformed conspiracy theorists.

Review: The Case for Shakespeare: The End of the Authorship Question

User Review  - Cory Howell - Goodreads

This book is well worth reading, for anyone interested in the so-called Authorship Controversy over Shakespeare. McCrea does to the "anti-Stratfordians" exactly what Toto does to the Wizard of Oz--he pulls back the curtain, to reveal the hollowness of the anti-Shakespeare movement.

Contents

• The Third Man: 16
• Reasonable Doubts: 53
• Lawyers Fingers: 80
• The Sonneteer: 102
• Footprints in the Garden: 115
• Suspects: 129
• The Accused: 154
• Motive and Means: 166
• Have the Body: 180
• The Logjam: 192
• Grief and Strife: 208
• All Conspiracy Theories Are Alike: 215
• Notes: 225
• Bibliography: 251
• Index: 263

About the author

SCOTT MCCREA is on the faculty of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film at the State University of New York, Purchase College. He is also an active playwright.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Case For Shakespeare: The End Of The Authorship Question
• Author: Scott Mccrea
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005
• ISBN: 027598527X, 9780275985271
• Length: 280 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Authorship; Literary Criticism / Shakespeare