Sweet Swan of Avon
The first part of the Shakespeare Authorship question--did the man
from Stratford-upon-Avon write the works bearing the name William
Shakespeare?--has pretty much been settled: No. Few people
seriously claim that he did.
The second part--who did?--is a doozy. For years I've been
intrigued by the
Oxford hypothesis, but bothered by the contortions required to
believe it.
In
Sweet Swan of Avon: Did a Woman Write Shakespeare?, Robin P.
Williams makes the case for
Mary Sidney, sister of Philip
Sidney. And what a case it is! Williams's research is thorough, her
argument convincing. The chapter on Sources includes a 16-page
table documenting striking connections between Sidney and many
works known to have been sources for the plays. Williams includes a
beautiful chronology, and the events fit Sidney's life in a way
they don't for the other candidates.
Williams speculates, but doesn't require suspension of disbelief.
Her argument works, and feels
right in a way that others
don't. Williams will be speaking at the Library on Thursday, and
I'm eager to see her presentation.
Posted by Ed | Categories:
Books