
Transcribed from the 1912 Longmans, Green and Co. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
SHAKESPEARE BACON AND THE GREAT UNKNOWN
PREFACE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
INTRODUCTION
I THE BACONIAN AND ANTI-WILLIAN POSITIONS
II THE “SILENCE” ABOUT SHAKESPEARE
III THAT IMPOSSIBLE HE—THE SCHOOLING OF SHAKESPEARE
IV MR. COLLINS ON SHAKESPEARE’S LEARNING
V SHAKESPEARE, GENIUS, AND SOCIETY
A thoughtful examination of the long‑standing debate over who truly penned the works traditionally attributed to Shakespeare, this volume dives into the Baconian hypothesis with meticulous care. It presents a wealth of historical documents, from early title pages and signatures to monument engravings, all reproduced in vivid illustrations that bring the Elizabethan world to life. Readers are guided through the arguments that have linked Francis Bacon to the plays, as well as the scholarly resistance that has kept the conventional view dominant.
The author, writing from a personal and scholarly perspective, acknowledges the book’s posthumous publication and the inevitable imperfections that accompany it. By referencing prominent figures—from judges and politicians to literary giants like Mark Twain—the narrative situates the controversy within a broader cultural context. The result is a balanced, engaging survey that invites listeners to weigh the evidence and consider the mysteries that still surround one of literature’s greatest enigmas.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (392K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1844–1912
Best known for the beloved Fairy Books, this Scottish writer brought folklore, myth, and adventure to generations of readers. He also moved easily between poetry, criticism, history, and anthropology, making him one of the most versatile literary figures of his time.
View all books
by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang

by Andrew Lang