The Shakespeare Myth by Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence

Description

The book that started the greatest literary argument of all. Was Shakespeare really Shakespeare? In 1910, Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence — a distinguished British MP and scholar — dropped a bombshell with The Shakespeare Myth, originally published as Bacon Is Shakespeare: the plays were actually written by Sir Francis Bacon.

Durning-Lawrence builds his case with lawyer-like precision. How could a man with no recorded education, who left no books or manuscripts, have written works steeped in law, classical literature, and courtly life? What do the strange alterations to Shakespeare’s Stratford monument really mean? And what of the ciphers and coded messages the author claims to find hidden in the texts?

Whether you find his arguments convincing or outrageous, this is the book that ignited the modern authorship controversy — and remains its most spirited, provocative statement. A fascinating read for lovers of Shakespeare, literary history, and a good intellectual mystery.

The book that launched the Shakespeare authorship debate

Was Shakespeare really Shakespeare? In 1910, Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence — a distinguished British MP and scholar — dropped a literary bombshell with The Shakespeare Myth, originally published as Bacon Is Shakespeare. His claim: the plays and poems attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford were actually written by Sir Francis Bacon, the philosopher, statesman, and scientist.

Durning-Lawrence builds his case with lawyer-like precision. How could a man with no recorded education, who left no books or manuscripts, have written works steeped in law, classical literature, and courtly life? What do the strange alterations to Shakespeare’s Stratford monument really mean? And what of the ciphers and coded messages the author claims to find hidden in the texts?

Whether you find his arguments convincing or outrageous, this is the book that ignited the modern Shakespeare authorship controversy — and it remains its most spirited, provocative statement. A fascinating read for lovers of Shakespeare, literary history, and a good intellectual mystery.