The Battle Over Shakespeare's Identity: A Historical Review of the Authorship Theories

How can anyone doubt that the world's greatest playwright wrote the plays attributed to him? William Shakespeare's name is found on the title pages, in appraisals and on his monumental tomb. Nonetheless, doubt has been cast on the Bard's authorship. Running the risk of branding as enthusiasts and worse, these skeptics tirelessly promote their cause.

The battle over Shakespeare's identity has a long history, especially since we know little about the historic playwright. As knowledge about Shakespeare grows, it would be logical to assume that skepticism would fade, but this has not proven to be the case. Skeptics are of the opinion that a worldview as advanced as that reflected in the plays matches poorly what documentation shows about the alleged author. This book covers the long history of this contentious debate and opens the possibility for re-evaluating the conversation.