What's in a Name? How Historians Know Shakespeare Was Shakespeare

A fascinating journey through Shakespeare's England offers significant insights into the "authorship question." How can we be certain that Shakespeare was indeed the creator of his renowned works? Could the son of a glove maker who left school at the age of fifteen truly have penned masterpieces like Hamlet, King Lear, and The Tempest? Historian Susan Amussen asserts that this is indeed the case. She invites readers to explore early modern England, following the journey that led William Shakespeare from modest beginnings in Stratford to achieving literary fame on the stages of London. This period was marked by swift societal change, with grammar schools opening up education in Latin and Greek to the general populace, and touring actors bringing the latest plays to the public. Meanwhile, London itself was a bustling hub of European visitors, where everyday citizens could observe the intricacies of courtly life. Esteemed historians agree that there is no doubt Shakespeare authored the plays attributed to him. Susan Amussen highlights their understanding that Shakespeare's England was a diverse and dynamic environment, providing all the resources a budding playwright would need to hone his skills and expand his creative horizons.