Shakespeare, Bacon And The Great Unknown

The theory that Francis Bacon was, in the main, the author of "Shakespeares plays," has now been for fifty years before the learned world. Its advocates have met with less support than they had reason to expect. Their methods, their logic, and their hypotheses closely resemble those applied by many British and foreign scholars to Homer; and by critics of the very Highest School to Holy Writ. Yet the Baconian theory is universally rejected in England by the professors and historians of English literature; and generally by students who have no profession save that of Letters. The Baconians, however, do not lack the countenance and assistance of highly distinguished persons, whose names are famous where those of mere men of letters are unknown; and in circles where the title of "Professor" is not duly respected.Contents: IntroductionChapter I: The Baconian And Anti-Willian PositionsChapter Ii: The "Silence" About ShakespeareChapter Iii: That Impossible He - The Schooling Of ShakespeareChapter Iv: Mr. Collins On Shakespeares LearningChapter V: Shakespeare, Genius, And SocietyChapter Vi: The Courtly Plays: "Loves Labours Lost"Chapter Vii: Contemporary Recognition Of Will As AuthorChapter Viii: "The Silence Of Philip Henslowe"Chapter Ix: The Later Life Of Shakespeare - His Monument And PortraitsChapter X: "The Traditional Shakspere"Chapter Xi: The First FolioChapter Xii: Ben Jonson And ShakespeareChapter Xiii: The Preoccupations Of BaconAppendicesAppendix I: "Troilus And Cressida"Appendix Ii - Chettles Supposed Allusion To Will ShakspereThis book is annotated with a rare extensive biographical sketch of the author, Andrew Lang, written by Sir Edmund Gosse, CB, a contemporary poet and writer.