Ask any member of the general public in the street for the name of a famous writer, and what will be their answer?

No, not Clive Custler.

No, not Sidney Sheldon either.

Okay, will l say it then; most likely they will all say William Shakespeare.

At least, that is what you might hope…

But is that justified? Because, strange as this may sound, much doubt William Shakespeare existed. Or, if he did exist, write the plays he is nowadays so famous for.

This may sound like some weird conspiracy theory, but only nitwits believe in it. But in this case, its not; many scholars (like the grandson of Evelyn Waugh) and famous actors, like Derek Jacobi) do not think Shakespeare, a famous writer, wrote the words ” Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo”.

Who can it be?

Now you may say; don’t be daft, man! If William Shakespeare did not write those timeless works of art, like the dramas Midsummer Nights Dream and The Taming of the shrew, or hilarious teen comedies like Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet, in which everybody dies horribly because of some amusing misunderstanding, who DID?

Well, according to the experts, most likely Marlowe. The only problem with that theory is, many plays by Shakespeare were written after Marlowe died.

Why do people actually think Shakespeare, the famous writer, didn’t write the plays that were published under his name? Well, there are some strange inconsistencies in his biography ( which he didn’t write himself).

About Shakespeare

Shakespeare, born in the little backwater that was Stratford upon Avon, was the son of illiterate parents. What’s more, his children were illiterate too. So ; illiterate grandparents, illiterate parents, GREATEST WRITER OF ALL TIME, illiterate children, illiterate grandchildren… Is there a logical explanation to think of why the greatest writer of all time did not teach his own children to read and write? Maybe not. But on the other hand, he hardly ever saw them, as he was busy in London, entertaining the Queen- and making lots of money in the process.

Then there is the question of his education. Shakespeare didn’t go to any college. He only visited the village school. Stratford upon Avon was not a cultural or linguistic hotspot, to say the least. How did Shakespeare get his knowledge about historical figures like Cleopatra, Caesar, Marc Anthony, or war strategies and curtail customs? He did use previous texts, by Plutarch, for example – but even so, how could he, a simple country lad like William was, read Latin texts?

And then there is the signature. Ah, the (in)famous signature! The only thing we are certain of Shakespeare wrote himself, is a signature on his Will – sorry, his will. There is, strangely enough, not a single mention of plays, books, or other texts in this legal document ( remember, Shakespeare was a writer,), and the signature itself is hardly legible. But then again, so is the handwriting of most doctors…

Shortly said

So you see, if you believe Shakespeare existed or not, there is always a way, if there is a will.

And so I ask you; Will Shakespeare be, or Will he not be? That’s the question.

(Someone should write a play around that age-old dilemma…).  Find here a list of famous writers.

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