Why has the authorship of Shakespeare’s works been questioned for over a hundred years, and who has been proposed as the possible author? 

In recent years, numerous scholarly works have been written about this issue. The two key questions that have been raised focus on whether the man from Stratford wrote the works, and if he didn’t, who did? 

The class discussion will review the reasons and sources for questioning the authorship of the plays and sonnets that have been attributed to William Shakespeare. We’ll consider other possible authors such as Christopher Marlowe, Sir Francis Bacon, and others. Special attention will be given to the Oxfordian theory, which claims that Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, was the real author.

What to Expect:

You will learn how plays were produced in the Elizabethan theater, the main reasons to question the authorship by the man from Stratford-Upon-Avon, other authors who have been proposed, and credible sources for further study. Be informed of the latest information concerning the authorship of Shakespeare’s works and the tools to learn more about the question. The discussion will include handouts, slides, and videos. 

Here’s your link to the YouTube Recording of The Authorship of Shakespeare’s Work

Session Recording

and a link to the Prime Video Rental of Last Will. & Testament

Gerard Marconi

Gerard Marconi

Gerard Marconi has a master’s degree in Humanities from Johns Hopkins University and in Theatre from Catholic University. He taught drama and produced theater at the college level for thirty years and led study trips to theaters and museums in Washington, London, and Florence, Italy. He served as president of the Theatre Association of Pennsylvania and a member of the Frederick Arts Council in Maryland. His one-act play entitled “Rapture” was given a public reading by the Baltimore Playwrights Festival and his short stories have appeared in “The Chattahoochee Review,” “Somerset Review,” “The Write Launch,” and “Mayday” magazine, among others. His book, “The Accidental Universe and Other Stories,” was recently published by Apprentice House Press at Loyola University of Maryland.

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