This book is the result of fourteen years research scrutinizing thousands of historical documents. Dr Matthews reveals never before seen facts regarding the earliest quartos and the first folio – even new research into the leather cover of the Bodleian first folio and how that particular copy came into the possession of the Turbutt family.
Dr Matthews has forensically dated the majority of Shakespearean plays some twenty years before earlier scholars, such as Rowe, Malone and Chambers – some plays dated as early as 1561 and 1558 – up to six years before William Shakespeare was born. Dr Matthews’ exemplary philosophical dissertation of the Shakespearean works and its critics, reveals much about the identity of the real authors.
A unique reference work essential to Shakespearean scholars and students alike – this book redates the Shakespearean works, scrutinises each candidate, and definitively answers the authorship debate.
قائمة المحتويات
Dedication
Preface
Introduction
PART ONE – EXAMINING THE FOUNDATIONS OF SHAKESPEAREAN HISTORY
1 – Fragile Foundations
2 – Historical Background to Shakespeare
3 – Early Quartos
4 – First Folio
5 – Masonic Influence
6 – Shakespearean Critics
PART TWO – A PHILOSOPHICAL DISSERTATION OF THE SHAKESPEAREAN WORKS AND ITS CRITICS
7 – Conspectus
8 - All’s Well That Ends Well
9 - A Midsummer Night’s Dream
10 - Antony and Cleopatra
11 - As You Like It
12 - Coriolanus
13 - Cymbeline
14 - Hamlet
15 - Henry IV
16 - Henry V
17 - Henry VI
18 - Henry VIII
19 - Julius Caesar
Index