The Shakespeare Story

Welcome to: The Shakespeare Story:
A Site Constructed to Promote the Wider Recognition of New Evidence Relating to the Authorship Debate

Did Shakespeare write the works attributed to him? If so, why are there so many gaps and contradictions in his life story? New evidence, coupled with a re-examination of previous conclusions now prove the author to have been Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. Find out why, below.

It is part of every person's education to be taught that among the greatest writers of the world is William Shakespeare: a man who began life from modest family beginnings, in the16th century town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and who later wrote plays and poetry that were to win acclaim throughout the world. It is an inherited belief. One that has been passed down from generation to generation, for Shakespeare left behind not one single hand-written word of his own with which to confirm his authorship.

With the increase in learning, and a concurrent growth of research opportunities, ever more people have become dissatisfied with this inherited teaching. They have detected within its content important anomalies, inconsistencies and even illogicalities, and this has caused them to examine far more critically the lessons they had previously accepted in good faith. As a result, there has been a defection away from the accepted canon of belief concerning Shakespeare and his transition from Stratford chrysalis to London imago. This in turn has caused a number of different ideas to be considered about Shakespeare and who he really was.

The Authorship Debate is about that consideration, and the conflict it has caused between two camps. On the one hand, there are those who refuse to abandon their inherited teaching and instead devote themselves to explaining, if they can, excusing, if they cannot, and ignoring, when all else fails, the inconsistencies inherent within their position. On the other hand, there are those who have defected, perceiving the case they have given up as indefensible; and, as more and more information comes to light, an inevitable lost cause.

This web site contains fresh evidence pertaining to the Authorship Debate. Anyone who wishes to supplant the recognized figure of Shakespeare by some other person must satisfy four criteria that presently form cornerstones for Stratford-based scholarship; they are: (1) the Stratford Monument; (2) a pamphlet called 'A Groats-Worth of Wit' written by Robert Greene; (3) Ben Jonson's epithet - Sweet Swan of Avon; (4) the tributes at the frontispiece of the First Folio edition of Shakespeare's plays. All four provide evidence for the identification of Shakespeare. All four have always been accepted as conclusive proof that Shakespeare was indeed the Stratford man. But these arguments have now been disproved. Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, fits all four criteria just as well, and he had a reason for concealing his identity behind the mask of another man. If you care about the identity of Shakespeare, or your only concern is one of truth, the pages that follow will help gratify that care or satisfy the concern.