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'Shakespeare' by Another Name: The Life of Edward de Vere
by Mark Anderson
The greatest mystery of recent times has at last been solved.
Who really wrote the beautiful works of Shakespeare? Was it the country lad and part-owner of a drama company who was questionably literate? Or was it the courtly, scholarly, passionate Earl of Oxford? After reading Mark Anderson's new book, there is no question in this reader's mind as to who the true author of the Shakespeare canon is. Lord Oxford, also known as Edward De Vere, appears to be exactly the type of person who would be able to write the beautiful and passionate verses under the name "Shake-Speare."
Anderson's meticulously researched book also mentions the problem that the Shakespeare plays, as we know them, were initially "author-less," likely because a courtly gentleman would not want to risk the anger of the royals he so lampooned. One of the most interesting points Anderson brings up is how some of the very same lines first written by De Vere just manage to "pop up" later in the plays of 'Shakespeare." And Anderson's explanation of the Shakespeare name as a pseudonym is believable as well.
Anderson explains how many of the familiar characters of Shakespeare's plays really were meant to represent prominent courtiers of his day, and present in-jokes that many of the court would understand well, and how at least some of these people understood the role their identities were playing on the stage. Anderson brings up very interesting points which experts on Shakespeare haven't appeared to answer for, such as the unmistakable similarity in writing style between the famous playwright and De Vere, and how numerous authorities on de Vere were quick to recognize his unmistakable talent, some even calling him the greatest poet of the time without officially mentioning the "Shakespeare" name.
Anderson also sketches out eerie parallels between De Vere's life and the adventures of his characters, noting how the romantic relationships in a number of his plays appear to represent aspects of his own at-times stormy, at-times peaceful relationships with his wives. After reading this engaging and well-written book, it's not to wonder, even a little bit, if the Earl of Oxford was in fact the man we know as Shakespeare.
Title: 'Shakespeare' by Another Name: The Life of Edward de Vere
Author: Mark Anderson
Publisher: Gotham
ISBN: 1592402151
Review written by: Susie Kopecky
Reviewer's Rating:8.5
Reader's Rating: 7.17
Reader's Votes: 6
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