Exploring Shakespeare works origination

Given the Oxford Shakespeare’s recent re-attribution of the three plays, Henry V1, Parts 1, 2 and 3, substantially to Christopher Marlowe, we look at all early “Shakespearean” works up to May 30th 1593, avoiding the more controversial issue of whether or not Marlowe was killed on that day.

How far, though, do these works overlap with Marlowe’s and were these by Shakespeare, Marlowe or even other contenders? Was William Shakespeare perhaps being a mere pseudonym, or rather allonym, later becoming something of a commercial brand?

From my perspective, as a business professor, Shakespeare’s provenance as an early school leaver, and from all fifty or so documents relating to him appears that of an actor and business manager. By contrast, he appears to lack any literary provenance or deep knowledge of classical or foreign sources drawn upon.

Later, many works turn more to Italy and regions close to Venice, so our perspective will be international. Also, drawing upon Ben and David Crystal’s Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life, we’ll be looking at what all these works reveal, both of the real Shakespeare and of what they perhaps mean for us in our own lives.

Buses: 5, 9, 24

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Accessibility : Parking meters, no lift needed for ground floor flat; two toilets on same level; Wheelchair Access – would need just to put in a ramp ; three steps to access home and another three to access garden for a more relaxed coffee outside.

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Page last updated on 20th July 2026