The theory that Shakespeare may not have written the works that bear his name is the most horrible, vexed, unspeakable subject in the history of English literature. In Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies, journalist and literary critic Elizabeth Winkler sets out to probe the origins of this literary taboo.
Winkler alternates between historical explorations of the subject matter and ideas about why the Shakespeare experts get so defensive and hard nosed. A must-read for those obsessed with the bard.
Winkler doesn’t weigh in on the likeliness of the candidates, but instead uses the controversy to serve up thoughtful meditations on the role of the author, the objectivity of biography, and the limits of scholarly study ... Probing and smart, this is sure to stir up lively debate.
Winkler is well versed in Shakespeare’s works as well as the “vast, complex” literature on the authorship question ... A shrewd, entertaining journey into a literary quagmire.
