The Critics Versus Shakspere A Brief for the Defendant

A witty and scholarly “brief for the defendant” frames Shakespeare’s enduring battle with his critics as a courtroom drama that stretches across three centuries. The author, a seasoned attorney, recounts the countless hearings where literary giants—from Ben Jonson to Voltaire, Drydry to Pope—have testified, each offering sharp, often contradictory judgments about the Bard’s genius. By treating the literary disputes as legal arguments, the work invites listeners to hear the familiar quarrels in a fresh, procedural light.

The narrative surveys a parade of detractors who accused Shakespeare of breaking classical unities, of mingling comedy and tragedy, and of lacking poetic justice, while also highlighting admirers like Milton and Pope who defended his singular vision. Through witty footnotes and vivid quotations, the book reveals how the “case” has been repeatedly dismissed, yet the debate persists, reflecting the timeless fascination with what makes great art. Listeners will come away with a richer sense of the historical arguments that have shaped Shakespeare’s reputation—and why the conversation is still very much alive.