[KamperKen]

"This stuff is nuts."

This 'stuff' is actually historically very intriguing and and quite reasonably has spawned many questions and much speculation over the centuries as to who was the true author. The doubters of the conventional wisdom form quite a literary honor role.

I recommend you read "Shakespeare by Another Name" by Mark Anderson and see if it causes you to reconsider your point of view. This is one of the more recent of a fair number of books on the subject and the overall argument based on known facts is a compelling one that Edward de Vere was the true (or main) author.

If you have the time and inclination to read it, share your thoughts with me after.

[twigs]

I have not read this book, but I did spend some time a few years back looking into the question because, like you, I found it interesting. I just didn’t find anything to cause me to think Shakespeare did not write his own material. It has seemed to me from the beginning of my search that the reason behind this speculation is sheer elitism. If I currently had the time, I would read this book, but alas, I don’t. Maybe some day I will. I like this time period.