Shakespeare--Who Was He: The Oxford Challenge to the Bard of Avon

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William Shakespeare is the only literary figure whose very identity is a matter of long-standing and continuing dispute. Was he really the glover's son from Stratford-on-Avon Or was he someone else writing under the pseudonym William Shakespeare Interest is growing now that a consensus has formed for Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, as the leading candidate. This book claims that Oxford, a recognised poet, playwright and patron of acting companies, has eclipsed Bacon, Marlowe and all the other candidates. The Oxfordian challenge is now being covered in scholarly books, in articles in magazines such as "The New Yorker" and "Atlantic Monthly" and on television, including an hour-long PBS "Frontline" programme. The issue has even been debated in a moot court before three justices of the Supreme Court - with an intriguing outcome. Whalen's book aims to provide a readable summary for the general reader, one that analyses the main arguments for both the man from Stratford-on-Avon and the Earl of Oxford. His conclusion He argues that the case for Oxford is much more persuasive. Oxford's life in general, and in its particulars, is mirrored throughout the works of Shakespeare in many striking ways, particularly in "Hamlet", the most autobiographical of the plays. Many who have examined the case for Oxford have had their appreciation of Shakespeare transformed and enriched. This book should be interesting reading for those who love Shakespeare and want to know more about why the authorship controversy persists. The main narrative is supplemented by endnotes, appendixes, and a bibliography.

Reviews

"I am fascinated by Whalen's plunge into the oft-tossed sea of the Shakespeare controversy. He invites us to accompany him on a stimulating search for answers."-E.J. Kahn author and staff writer for over fifty years for The New Yorker
"In a clear, concise, eminently readable style, Whalen takes the reader on a most entertaining and instructive tour of the great debate. Much has been written on the Shakespeare authorship question, but Whalen's brisk summary of it should lead to a much wider understanding of the surprisingly strong case for Oxford and the shaky foundation under the pedestal of the Bard of Avon."-From the Foreword by Ambassador Paul H. Nitze
"Shakespeare--Who Was He is that rare book--a splendidly written whodunit that solves a real-life, 400-year mystery . . . a mystery bequeathed to posterity by William Shakespeare himself."-Gary B. Goldstein, Editor The Elizabethan Review
"Sooner or later almost every student of Shakespeare will confront the troubling figure of Oxford. Whalen presents all aspects of this fascinating controversy. Oxfordians will delight in giving this lucid, compact study to their Stratfordian friends. It is ideal for both believers, skeptics and agnostics. It just may help you make up your mind."-Norrie Epstein author of The Friendly Shakespeare
"Terrific . . . readable, friendly, clear, balanced, honest, a scholarly presentation of evidence in a format accessible to anyone."-Professor Felicia Londre University of Missouri
"Whalen is forthright about his Oxfordian position, but his lucid, even-handed methodology challenges students to think through the authorship issue and evidence from many angles. The result in class is penetrating questions, critical thinking, and vigorous discussion. Students get hyped using this book to research and argue the authorship problem."-David A. Richardson Cleveland State University
This great literary mystery will simply not go away: Were the plays and poems attributed to Will Shakspear, the glover's son from Stratford-upon-Avon, really written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford The general reader is well served by Whalen's presentation of both sides of the argument. The annotated bibliography, which is the only one of its kind available, is extremely useful for readers who wish to pursue further research.-Library Journal
Whalen examines the "great debate" over Shakespeare's identity by offering convincing evidence that Edward de Vere, the seventeenth East of Oxford, was actually the author of Shakespeare's works. A lucid discussion, suggested for English literature students.-Booklist/Adult Books for Young Adults
Whalen's main asset is his plain compare-and-contrast briefing ability: all the issues of evidence and inference are clearly stated. Whalen fairly notes the vulnerabilities in Oxford-as-author, such as the dating difficulty: several of the plays were published after the earl's death in 1604. A piece by noted cold warrior Paul Nitze prefaces this esay introduction to the case.-Booklist/Adult Nonfiction
"Whalen examines the "great debate" over Shakespeare's identity by offering convincing evidence that Edward de Vere, the seventeenth East of Oxford, was actually the author of Shakespeare's works. A lucid discussion, suggested for English literature students."-Booklist/Adult Books for Young Adults
"Whalen's main asset is his plain compare-and-contrast briefing ability: all the issues of evidence and inference are clearly stated. Whalen fairly notes the vulnerabilities in Oxford-as-author, such as the dating difficulty: several of the plays were published after the earl's death in 1604. A piece by noted cold warrior Paul Nitze prefaces this esay introduction to the case."-Booklist/Adult Nonfiction
"This great literary mystery will simply not go away: Were the plays and poems attributed to Will Shakspear, the glover's son from Stratford-upon-Avon, really written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford The general reader is well served by Whalen's presentation of both sides of the argument. The annotated bibliography, which is the only one of its kind available, is extremely useful for readers who wish to pursue further research."-Library Journal

Author Bio

RICHARD F. WHALEN is a writer, lecturer, and President of the Shakespeare Oxford Society. He has received degrees from Fordham College, the Sorbonne, and Yale Graduate School. After military service in France, he was a reporter and editor, principally with the Associated Press in New York, and for many years he was an executive in corporate communications at IBM. He now lives on Cape Cod, where he continues to write on the seventeenth earl of Oxford as the man behind the pseudonym William Shakespeare.