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De Vere as Shakespeare: An Oxfordian Reading of the Canon
The question may be met with chagrin by traditionalists, but the identity of the Bard is not definitely decided. During the 20th century, Edward de Vere, the most flamboyant of the courtier poets, a man of the theater and literary patron, became the leading candidate for an alternative Shakespeare. This text presents the controversial argument for de Vere's authorship of the plays and poems attributed to Shakespeare, offering the available historical evidence and moreover the literary evidence to be found within the works. Divided into sections on the comedies and romances, the histories and the tragedies and poems, this fresh study closely analyzes each of the 39 plays and the sonnets in light of the Oxfordian authorship theory. The vagaries surrounding Shakespeare, including the lack of information about him during his lifetime, especially relating to the "lost years" of 1585-1592, are also analyzed, to further the question of Shakespeare's true identity and the theory of de Vere as the real Bard.
280 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 18, 2021
No pot-shots. This book delves each tranche of work.
Incisive and thought provoking without a trace of innuendo or malice. As if Sgt Joe Friday were on the scene: “Just the facts, Ma’am.” I found it worthy to do a once over, and then return with my highlighter.
Incisive and thought provoking without a trace of innuendo or malice. As if Sgt Joe Friday were on the scene: “Just the facts, Ma’am.” I found it worthy to do a once over, and then return with my highlighter.
November 24, 2011
There is a great deal of good information in this book. Much of it is quite interesting, and I liked the play-by-play analysis of connections with de Vere.
However, I found that many of the pertinent points were repeated over and over. While some points clearly bore repeating, I would have liked to see a treatment that reduced the need for repetition. I realize in saying so that my liking of the play-by-play analysis and a call for less repetition may be at odds. Still, the style is somewhat dry, which is made worse by the repetition. A more imaginative approach to the material, even as an addendum, would liven up the book.
Still, these problems didn't prevent me from finishing the book, which would have been good sized even without the repetition. But Farina exercises admirable restraint. While there is clearly enough material on this subject to fill a good sized library, Farina, presents enough of it to make his points without driving the reader away with irrelevancies.
The occasional digression into less salient points of de Vere's life can be forgiven, both because they are relatively rare, and because the biography of interesting individuals gains depth and texture when such details are used to present a broader view of the subject's character and environment. To (somewhat badly) paraphrase Plutarch, staying on topic may fill the mind, but interesting details kindle the fire of the imagination.
However, I found that many of the pertinent points were repeated over and over. While some points clearly bore repeating, I would have liked to see a treatment that reduced the need for repetition. I realize in saying so that my liking of the play-by-play analysis and a call for less repetition may be at odds. Still, the style is somewhat dry, which is made worse by the repetition. A more imaginative approach to the material, even as an addendum, would liven up the book.
Still, these problems didn't prevent me from finishing the book, which would have been good sized even without the repetition. But Farina exercises admirable restraint. While there is clearly enough material on this subject to fill a good sized library, Farina, presents enough of it to make his points without driving the reader away with irrelevancies.
The occasional digression into less salient points of de Vere's life can be forgiven, both because they are relatively rare, and because the biography of interesting individuals gains depth and texture when such details are used to present a broader view of the subject's character and environment. To (somewhat badly) paraphrase Plutarch, staying on topic may fill the mind, but interesting details kindle the fire of the imagination.
July 10, 2008
To be or....hmmm?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews