Dr Rory Loughnane, Senior Lecturer in Early Modern Studies in the School of English, was interviewed in The Guardian and The Observer this month about new findings concerning William Shakespeare’s co-authors. This new research will be featured in a new collection, entitled Early Shakespeare, 1588-1594 (Cambridge University Press, 2020), co-edited by Rory and Dr Andrew J. Power (University of Sharjah).
Early Shakespeare, 1588–1594, due to be published later this month, draws together leading scholars of text, performance, and theatre history to offer a rigorous re-appraisal of Shakespeare’s early career. The contributors offer rich new critical insights into the theatrical and poetic context in which Shakespeare first wrote and his emergence as an author of note, while challenging traditional readings of his beginnings in the burgeoning theatre industry.
In one article, Rory discusses research by Dr John V. Nance which points to Christopher Marlowe as a plausible candidate for co-author of Shakespeare’ s The Taming of The Shrew. The research, which focuses on Scene 3 of the play, is the first evidence that Marlowe wrote comedy.
‘This is a transformative finding for our understanding of the play’s composition, as well as having significant implications for any critical assessments of the play’s structure, themes and characters. More research is required into the identity of the play’s co-author or co-authors, but any future studies will have to take Marlowe’s candidacy seriously’, explains Rory. ‘Nance’s groundbreaking research, complementing other exciting new studies in Early Shakespeare, 1588-1594, forces a broader reconsideration of Shakespeare’s early working life and writing practices’.
The full article can be found on the Guardian’s website here:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/apr/14/did-shakespeares-taming-of-the-shrew-have-two-authors-christopher-marlowe
In addition, Professor Gary Taylor, who has also contributed to Early Shakespeare, 1588–1594, has identified playwright Thomas Watson as the primary author of Arden of Faversham, as reported in The Observer.
Rory says: ‘Taylor’s identification of Watson’s hand in Arden … is a major finding, not least for our understanding of Shakespeare’s early career’.
The full article can be found on the Guardian’s website here:
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/apr/05/shakespeares-secret-co-writer-finally-takes-a-bow-430-years-late