ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an extract from an article published in Scribner’s Monthly 9 (1874-1875). Men no less in eminence than a British Prime Minister have maintained that the evidence is conclusive that Shakespeare was not the author of works attributed to him. The article briefly published the history of the discussion and the main arguments upon each side. One of the arguments, that Shakespeare was not the author of the works ascribed to him, is the fact that Shakespeare never claimed the plays as his own, and died without seeing this most remarkable series of intellectual works placed in the custody of type. The claim that Francis Bacon was the author of some Shakespeare's plays is based on arguments such as that the plays and poems appeared at a time when Bacon could best have written them; between his admission to the bar in 1582, and his elevation to the principal law office of the crown in 1613.
