Publisher's Synopsis
The book ""The Shakespearean Enigma and an Elizabethan Mania"" by John F. Forbis delves into the mystery surrounding the true identity of William Shakespeare, one of the most celebrated playwrights in history. The author explores the various theories and controversies surrounding Shakespeare's life and works, including the debate over whether he actually wrote the plays attributed to him.Forbis also examines the wider cultural and historical context of Elizabethan England, exploring the social and political forces that shaped Shakespeare's world and influenced his writing. The book offers a fascinating insight into the intellectual and cultural climate of the time, and the ways in which Shakespeare's work both reflected and challenged the prevailing ideas and values of his society.Throughout the book, Forbis draws on a wide range of sources, including historical documents, literary analysis, and contemporary accounts of Shakespeare and his works. He also provides a detailed analysis of the various arguments and counter-arguments surrounding the Shakespearean authorship question, offering his own perspective on the debate.Overall, ""The Shakespearean Enigma and an Elizabethan Mania"" is a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of one of the most enduring mysteries of literary history, and a fascinating insight into the world of Elizabethan England.1924. Contents: Shakespearean enigma; sonnets; dark woman sonnets; Shakespeare the man; were the sonnets addressed to anyone; the dedication; other poems; the phoenix and the turtle; passionate pilgrim; lover's complaint; Shakespeare and Ben Jonson; poetaster; Jonson, the rival poet; an Elizabethan enigma; petrarch the source; English petrarchists: Sir Philip Sidney; Samuel Daniel; Thomas Lodge; Willobie His Avisa; Michael Drayton; Edmund Spenser; pseudo-petrarchists: Thomas Watson; Giles Fletcher; Barnabe Barnes; R. Linche; William Smith; Robert Tofte; William Shakespeare again.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.