Vol.4:no.3 "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments..." Spring 2005 The Sonnets The name is new, dedication the beat goes on puzzle Shakespeare Authorship Studies By Robert R. Prechter, Jr. ©2005 Conference meets in Portland The famous dedi- his year’s author- cation to Shake- ship conference speare’s Sonnets, Tin Portland, Or- published in 1609, egon, would have been has been the sub- the 9th Annual Edward ject of conster- de Vere Studies Con- nation and ridi- ference, but instead in- cule, and several augurated a new era scholars have under the name The denounced it as Shakespeare Author- ship Studies Confer- convoluted and ence. bombastic. Fig. 1 Conference Direc- Students of the tor Dr. Daniel Wright authorship question have long suspected had decided upon the that the odd arrangement of words, obscure change last fall in an meaning and bizarre syntax suggest the Charles Beauclerk (l) and William Cecil, 8th Marquess of Exeter, seated attempt to make the possibility of an encoded message. Inspired together at the Awards Banquet. Beauclerk, who lived in the US for 10 forum more inviting to years actively promoting Oxford in the late 1980s and 90s, received by discussions at an Oxfordian conference scholars who were in- in 1998, I tackled the problem of the Sonnets the Distinguished Scholarship Award, while Cecil was the featured speaker at the banquet. terested in the author- dedication and presented a summary of ship debate, but who some of my findings at the annual conference might also be reluctant of the Shakespeare Oxford Society in to seem to commit to Stratford (Ontario) in October 2000. Oxford’s authorship by To summarize what I believe lies hidden attending a conference in the Sonnets dedication, it contains not named after him. a code but—at least from our point of view Nonetheless, as —a puzzle. The contents of what I call the Wright also notes, his Dedication Puzzle are a list of names, commitment to Oxford including most importantly the following: remains as firm as ever, and the majority of (1) The names of the principals who got papers presented con- the Sonnets published. tinue to explore au- (2) The names of the characters in the thorship issues from an Sonnets. Oxfordian perspective. (3) The true name of Shakespeare. This year’s conference (4) Additional names of (mostly) real Dr. Roger Stritmatter and Fellowship President Lynne Kositsky gave was a testament to the people that Edward de Vere used as a joint presentation laying out an excellent case for why the infamous continuing Oxfordian pseudonyms. “Strachey letter” is not a problem for Oxford—who died in 1604— being the author of The Tempest. nature of the event, and (Continued on page 12) (Continued on page 7) page 2 Shakespeare Matters Spring 2005 Letters: 2005 Board Nominations and To the Editor: proposed By-Laws Amendments On my recent visit to Portland to attend As chair of the nominating committee, Nominee for President: Ted Story, the Shakespeare Authorship Studies Con- I am writing to advise you of the Shakespeare Fellowship Secretary, Pro- ference, I had an opportunity to renew nominations for the board and President ducer/Director (New York, NY). many old friendships and to observe the for the September 29, 2005, annual state of the debate “live” for the first time meeting of the Shakespeare Fellowship. Nominees for the Board: in many years. It was good to get up to The bylaws of the Fellowship require the speed with some of the new developments, nominating committee to notify the Lynne Kositsky (2nd three year term) especially Hank Whittemore’s important membership of its nominees for election Award-winning Canadian writer work on the Sonnets. His emphasis on the for these positions ninety days before the (Toronto, Ont). royalty of Shakespeare goes to the heart of annual meeting. As per the bylaws section Tim Holcomb (2nd three year term) the mystery to which—willy nilly—we have all become apprenticed. Now that I no III.C, members at their discretion may Founder and artistic director, longer believe that Oxford was a de Vere by then nominate additional candidates for Hampshire Shakespeare Co. blood, I can see clearly why the boar in the board or offices by petition. (Amherst, Mass). Shakespeare is such a potent symbol of This communication is not a ballot, Sarah Smith (2nd three year term) destruction. The boar, his de Vere identity, but a list of nominees from the nominat- Award-winning American writer destroys his royal hopes. ing committee, approved by the current (Brookline, MA). More importantly, however, I can see trustees: Michael Dunn (to finish appointed how vital it is that we as a movement do not Presidency: As you are aware, Lynne term, two years) Actor, founder, create our own orthodoxy, based on ro- Kositsky has very ably carried on the Truebard (Pacific Palisades, CA). mantic notions of Shakespeare the Oxfor- Presidency of the Shakespeare Fellow- K.C. Ligon (to finish appointed dian. Too many of us seem too eager to put ship following the resignation of Charles term, two years) Writer, Dialect into port before the journey’s end in order Berney last November. Lynne wishes to Coach (New York, N.Y.). to build castles in the sand, a mindset that step down from the Presidency while panders to the Stratfordian obsession with remaining on the board, and continuing Two board members, Steve Aucella creating schools of criticism. Instead, we her work with the Fellowship in other and Earl Showerman, are resigning, both would be well advised to keep to the open capacities. for personal reasons. They will continue seas, where we can enjoy the salt spray upon our cheeks and hear the shrouds rattle in the wind. Wary of literary ortho- Subscriptions to Shakespeare Matters are $40 doxies, people are more likely to respond Shakespeare Matters Published quarterly by the per year ($20 for online issues only). Family or to a call to join us on our voyage. The Shakespeare Fellowship institution subscriptions are $45 per year. My view has always been that this de- Patrons of the Fellowship are $75 and up. bate will not be won on the Stratfordians’ Editorial Offices Send subscription requests to: P.O. Box 263 terms, i.e., on their standards of scholar- The Shakespeare Fellowship ship, but on ours. Moreover, it will only be Somerville, MA 02143 P.O. Box 434 Marshfield MA 02051 won by asserting the whole truth, and noth- Editor: ing but the truth, however shocking to the William Boyle The purpose of the Shakespeare Fellowship sensibilities of our culture. Intuition and is to promote public awareness and acceptance imagination are vital components in un- Contributing Editors: of the authorship of the Shakespeare Canon by derstanding works of art which transcend Mark Anderson, Dr. Charles Berney, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550- the rational mind. As Yeats reminds us in Charles Boyle, Dr. Felicia Londre, 1604), and further to encourage a high level of Lynne Kositsky, Alex McNeil, scholarly research and publication into all his poem “The Scholars”, what on earth Dr. Anne Pluto, Elisabeth Sears, aspects of Shakespeare studies, and also into the would the dry men do if the Roman love Dr. Roger Stritmatter, Richard Whalen, history and culture of the Elizabethan era. poet [Catullus] whom they circumscribe Hank Whittemore, Dr. Daniel L. Wright The Society was founded and incorporated with their commentaries should walk their in 2001 in the State of Massachusetts and is Phone (Somerville, MA): (617) 628-3411 chartered under the membership corporation way? They would of course condemn him. email: [email protected] laws of that state. It is a recognized 501(c)(3) So, perhaps we should not try too hard All contents copyright ©2005 nonprofit (Fed ID 04-3578550). to be Oxfordians, but dig deeply into the The Shakespeare Fellowship Dues, grants and contributions are tax- works to become true Shakespeareans. deductible to the extent allowed by law. Shakespeare Matters welcomes articles, essays, commentary, book reviews, letters and news items. Charles Beauclerk Contributions should be reasonably concise and, when Hadleigh, England, UK appropriate, validated by peer review. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the 15 June 2005 Fellowship as a literary and educational organization. Internet Ed. (©2005, The Shakespeare Fellowship - not for sale or distribution without written consent) Spring 2005 Shakespeare Matters page 3 to work with the Fellowship as active From the Editor members. In their place the Shakespeare Fellowship Board of Trustees is nominat- Shakespeare in Washington DC ing On page five in this issue we report on as Michael Wood’s In Search of Shake- speare and Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in Alex McNeil (after leave of absence, a recent press conference held at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC the World. one year term). Lawyer, author, form- announcing a 6-month-long Shakespeare As we’ve noted before in these pages, er President of the SF (Newton, MA) festival to be held in our nation’s capital. we are in the midst of a major counter- Richard Desper (One year term) PhD, It strikes us that this long, elaborate offensive from those who would preserve Oxfordian scholar, former Assistant festival is a big deal in the ongoing the Stratford story forever—which is to Treasurer, SOS (Ayer, MA). authorship saga, coming as it will on the say “never EVER.” heelsof a major motion picture on Oxford Oxfordians should mark their calendars In addition, the nominating commit- as Shakespeare (Soul of the Age) that we now and not let this event unfold without tee has proposed two bylaw amendments expect will be released in late 2006, not to some strong counter-publicity to remind which, after discussion and approval by mention the recent push to reinvent the everyone that you must be acquainted the existing trustees, you will be asked to Stratfordian position through such books with Oxford to really know Shakespeare.