Newsletter a Publication of the Shakespeare O:Iford Society "Dedicated to Researching and Honoring the True Bard"
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mbe ~bake5peare extorb Newsletter A Publication of the Shakespeare O:iford Society "Dedicated to Researching and Honoring the True Bard" Vol. 43: No.4 " .. .1 have seen a lac6!s nose that has been bille, but not her eyebrow" The Winter sTale 2.1.14 Fall 2007 William Shakespeare and the Authorship Controversy: A Study in Literary Triumph and Historical Tragedy Allegra Krasznekewicz Allegra Krasnekewicz is a junior at Santa of the countless manifestations express Catalina School in Monterey, Calijomia. ing Shakespeare's profound understand She recently won the Monterey County and ing of the human condition that has Allegra the Calijomia State Histol)! Day Competi transcended the centuries. His mastery sance society. The triumph ofShakespeare is tionsfor her paper on the Shakespeare Au of words and his ability to express the his prolific litermy genius expressed within thorsh ip controversy. Although she started mind's intricacies with the utmost grace, the most renowned works of literature; reading and peljorming Shakespeare ill insightfulness, and poignancy has bestowed however, the authorship controversy illu junior high school, it was during the summer upon him a legacy of genius. Behind his minates a tragedy for historians, scholars, 0/ her .freshman year in high school when masterpieces however lies a puzzling void and actors who wish to further their insight she spent a month in London and OJ-jord of primary sources conceming his private of the author and his works beyond the that her interest in Shakespeare and the life and public involvement in Elizabethan timeless words to discover their historical authorship mystel)! began to develop. Under England's literalY society. This absence significance. the tutelage 0/ her middle school teachel; Ms. Forbes Keaton, Allegra continued her research into the subject and decided to develop it into a paper/or the HistOl), Day His mastery of words and his ability to express the mind's Competition. She presented her paper on intricacies with the utmost grace, insightjitlness, and October 6, 2007, to the Shakespeare A uthor ship Conference in Carmel. poignancy has bestowed upon him a legacy ofgenius. Behind "To be or not to be, that is the question." This familiar quotation from Hamlet is one his masterpieces however lies a puzzling void ofpril11 my • INSIDE· sources concerning his private life and public involvement in President's Page 2 Elizabethan England's literary society. Greetings 2 Cannel Authorship Conference 3 Isabel Holden 13 of documentation raises suspicion in the The authorship controversy reminds SOS President Matthew Cossolotto minds of many Shakespearean scholars and scholars and historians alike that the master Interv iews Allegra Krasznekewicz 14 historians, leading to a question regarding ful plays, regardless of their author, remain Nine / Eleven, Iraq, and Hem)1 V: the authorship of the plays. In response, an the most triumphant works of the English Shakespeare in the Classroom 16 alternative candidate has been advanced as language. Shakespeare captured the essence Concordia Connections Issue 19 the potential author: Edward de Vere, 17th of humanity and displayed it in a timeless Letters to the Editor 19 Earl of Oxford, whose well-documented array of words that have moved millions Declaration of Reasonable Doubt 21 experiences at court would have allowed tlu'oughout histOlY to tears of laughter and Reco 11 ections of Peter Moore him to use the plays as an expression ofthe grief. Countless, frequently- repeated ex- on the Occasion of His Passing 24 follies and achievements of English Renais- (COllt 'd on p. 6) page 2 Fall 2007 Shakespeare Oxford Newsletter Shakespeare Oxford President's Page Newsletter Dear Friends: other projects she wanted to work on, Published qualterly by the As our 50th anniversary year winds down including a book she has neglected for Shakespeare Oxford Society and we look ahead toward our 51 st year, I too long and that she simply couldn't P.O. Box 808 want to mention a few significant develop continue to devote the enormous amount Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 ments with you and also share my thoughts of time and energy required to produce Tel: (914) 962-1717 about the state of our society. The Oxfordian evelY year. Society Fax: (914) 254-9713 First of all, a quick reminder. Publication members present gave Stephanie a velY Email: [email protected] of our 50th anniversaty anthology of atticles warm round of applause and a standing ISSN 1525-6863 continues to proceed apace. We hope to have ovation in appreciation for her excellent www.shakespeare-oxford.com the completed volume in the hands of mem work and dedication over the years. Now Editor: bers by early 2008. The volume is entitled: the Society will focus on the difficult Lew Tate "RepOlt My Cause Aright." Society members task of tlying to replace Stephanie at will receive one copy of the anthology fi'ee the helm of The Oxfordian. A number Editorial Board: of charge but we encourage members to buy of impressive candidates have already John Hamill extra copies and give them away as gifts to expressed interest in the position. The Frank Davis fi-iends, relatives, libraries, and schools. We Publications COlIDllittee and the Board Dr. Jim Brooks need your SUppOlt to ensure that this anthol ofDirectors hope to be able to atmounce Ramon Jimenez ogy not only helps us spread the word about a decision by FeblUalY 2008. James Shelwood Oxford and the authorship issue, but also tums 2) Former Society President Frank Davis Dr. Richard Smiley into a fundraising vehicle for the Society. did not seek re-election to the Board Katherine Chiljan F or those who could not attend our annual of Trustees. I want to thank Frank for Brian Bechtold meeting and conference in Cmmel, Califor his years of dedicated service on the Layout and Printing nia, in October, here are some highlights Board. Frank assures me that he will St. Mattin de Pones Lay Dominicans from my perspective. In terms of important be an active member of the Society New Hope, Kentucky breaking news from the annual meeting, I and that he will continue serving on All contents copyright © 2007 call your attention to the following items: the Publications Committee. Shakespeare Oxford Society 1) At our annual meeting on Friday morn 3) I want to formally welcome our new The Newsletter welcomes research articles, book ing, October 5th, Stephanie Hughes est member of the Board of Trustees: reviews , letters and news items. ContTibutions made a surprise announcement. She told Andrew Flye. Andrew is a high school should be reasonably concise and, when appro- the annual meeting that she would be English teacher who has made a point priate, validated by peer review. Assignment of copyright is required for publication. The views stepping down as editor ofThe Oxfordian of introducing his students to the of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of after publication of the CUiTent edition. Shakespeare authorship issue and the the Shakespeare Oxford Society as a literary and Stephanie explained that she had been case for Oxford. I believe Andrew will educational organization. giving the matter a great deal of thought make a major contribution to the work for many months and that she ultimately ofthe Society, especially as it relates to decided it would be a good time for her our outreach efforts to students, teach to resign after completing work on the ers and the educational conU11Unity in tenth edition of The Oxfordian. She general. Welcome aboard Andrew! Board of Trustees also mentioned that she had several (cOl1f'dol1p. /3) Shakespeare Oxford Society Lifetime HOI/oral}' Trustee GREETINGS Charles Boyle Welcome to the SOS Newsletter. This her conducted by SOS president Matthew 2007 edition is dedicated almost entirely to the Cossolotto. It is pretty well understood that President: Matthew Cossolotto SOS/Shakespeare Fellowship Conference in the future of authorship studies is with the First Vice President: John Hamill Cmmel, California held in early October. As youth. With that in mind, I threw in the article Brian Bechtold always, the annual conference was informa I presented at the conference which has to do Virginia Hyde tive, inspirational, and plain 01' fun. You can with Shakespeare in the classroom. Richard Michael Pisapia Whalen contributed an obitumy and an update Randall Sherman read a brief suml11my of the conference in Dr. Richard Smiley this newsletter. The star of the "show" was on Oxford publication. 101m Shehan gave Dr. Richard Joyrich Allegra Krasznekewicz, a high school junior a repOlt on the "Declaration of reasonable James Sherwood from Monterey, Califomia who wrote an es Doubt" which he has made into an impOltant Andrew Freye. say on Oxford authorship and entered it in intemational document. It appears here again. an essay contest and became a state finalist. If you haven't done so, go to the website and You can read more about her and her essay sign it. Enjoy this newsletter. in this newsletter as well an interview with Lew Tate, ed. [email protected] Shakespeare Oxford Newsletter Fall 2007 page 3 Carmel Authorship Conference By Richard Joyrich The Carmel Authorship Conference convened at the Golden Friday moming began with the annual meeting ofthe Shakespeare Bough Playhouse in Carmel, CA. Evelyone was velY pleased with Oxford Society, during which a resolution was passed which directed the venue; Carmel is a gorgeous place. the Board of Trustees to work with the Shakespeare Fellowship to There were four talks Thursday aftemoon. Dr. Earl Showerman form a new combined organization started us out wi th another of his series oftalks on Shakespeare's use The talks began wi th Dr. Frank Davis on an intriguing annotation of Greek sources, most of which are typically ignored by orthodox found in the First Folio belonging to Glasgow University which scholars who find it difficult to reconcile with the educationreceived amplified his recent article in the SOS Newsletter.