This book presents original material which indicates that Aemilia Lanyer female writer, feminist, and Shakespeare contemporary is Shakespeares hidden and arguably most significant co-author. Once dismissed as the mere paramour of Shakespeares patron, Lord Hunsdon, she is demonstrated to be a most articulate forerunner of #MeToo fury.
Building on previous research into the authorship of Shakespeares works, Bradbeer offers evidence in the form of three case studies which signal Aemilias collaboration with Shakespeare. The first case study matches the works of "George Wilkins" who is currently credited as the co-author of the feminist Shakespeare play Pericles (1608) with Aemilia Lanyers writing style, education, feminism and knowledge of Lord Hunsdons secret sexual life. The second case-study recognizes Titus Andronicus (1594), a play containing the characters Aemilius and Bassianus, to be a revision of the suppressed play Titus and Vespasian (1592), as authored by the unmarried pregnant Aemilia Bassano, as she then was. Lastly, it is argued that Shakespeares clowns, Bottom, Launce, Malvolio, Dromio, Dogberry, Jaques, and Moth, arise in her deeply personal war with the misogynist Thomas Nashe. Each case study reveals new aspects of Lanyers feminist activism and involvement in Shakespeares work, and allows for a deeper analysis and appreciation of the plays.
This research will prove provocative to students and scholars of Shakespeare studies, English literature, literary history, and gender studies.
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