by Linda Theil
James A. Warren's epic centennial history of the Oxfordian movement was released last month by Warren's imprint Veritas Publications on Amazon.
Shakespeare Revolutionized: The First Hundred Years of J. Thomas Looney's Shakespeare Identified details the Oxfordian movement from its inception with the publication of Looney's foundational work in 1920 to the current moment of feverish fascination with the origin of Shakespeare's works.
We asked Warren to share his thoughts at this monumental accomplishment.
Oberon: Could you tell the story of how Shakespeare Revolutionized came to be and how long it took to create?
Warren: Four years of research followed by two years of mostly writing but also some research. The writing and revising took 20 months of 12-hour days.
Oberon: Could you tell some of the highlights of its content; both in terms of reader interest, and in terms of authorial satisfaction?
Warren: Until now, much information about the early decades of the Oxfordian movement has been lost. Of particular importance is the work of early scholars establishing the topical and personal nature of the plays and sonnets -- by Looney, Percy Allen, Admiral Holland, Eva Turner Clark, and others.
The importance of the historical information uncovered by the Wards [Col Bernard R. Ward and Capt. Bernard M. Ward] in chapter seven confirms the literary information drawn from the works themselves; the need for informed imagination to understand Shakespeare's works and the context in which they were created as shown by Looney, Percy Allen and others; and the importance of a correct understanding of the nature of genius and literary creativity -- all of which support Oxford's authorship and undermine Shakspere's.
These ideas are approached in various ways in many chapters throughout the book, and all are brought together in support of the strategies for completing the Oxfordian revolution outlined in the final two chapters.
Oberon: Was there any part that you found particularly difficult to write?
Warren: Chapters 19 and 20 were the hardest to write because I wanted to limit them to a short snapshot of the current movement. Initially one chapter, I eventually had to divide it into two chapters, and they still kept growing because I didn't want to omit important contributions to the Oxfordian cause. Although I think I found the optimal length and level of detail, I know there will be people unhappy that their important work wasn't discussed in greater detail.
Oberon: Please tell us that there will be an e-version forthcoming.
Warren: I don't think the many text boxes and images will appear well in an e-version; I will revisit this subject in September.
Oberon: Dare we ask, are you taking a vacation?
Warren: I have another big book coming out in September, in the same format as Shakespeare Revolutionized, and almost as many pages. Titled Shakespeare Investigated, its a collection of the 330 pieces that the Shakespeare Fellowship published before launching its News-letter in January 1937:
- the SF column in The Hackney Spectator, 1922-1925 (124 pieces)
- the SF circulars sent to members, 1922-1935 (90+ pieces)
- the SF page in The Shakespeare Pictorial, 1929-1936 (100+ pieces)
It's an important collection because the pieces in it -- almost none ever been reprinted -- report on Oxfordian research as it was taking place. It was an exciting time in the movement, just like today.
In 1998 Roger Parisious wrote in The Elizabethan Review (vol. 6/2, Autumn 1998, p. 90), that "In the best interests of accurate Elizabethan scholarship, the entire run of inaccessible Shakespeare Fellowship proceedings (Hackney Spectator, 1922-1928, Shakespeare Pictorial, 1929-1937) should be assembled in one volume as quickly as possible."
Twenty-three years later it's finally happening with the publication of Shakespeare Investigated.
Shakespeare Investigated will be followed by a third book almost as long containing 450 letters exchanged between early Oxfordians 1920-1945. These letters provide an even more up-to-the-minute detailing of Oxfordian discoveries as they occurred.
So, slowly but surely, with these three big books:
- Shakespeare Revolutionized -- examination of the effects of Shakespeare Identified over the past century (published July 2021)
- Shakespeare Investigated -- a collection of 330 pieces published by the Shakespeare Fellowship 1922-1936 (to be published in September 2021)
- Not yet titled -- a collection of 450 letters exchanged by Oxfordians 1920-1945 (to be published early in 2022)
the foundations of the Oxfordian movement are becoming accessible to anyone who wants to see them.
Oberon: Thanks to the indomitable talent and dedication of James Warren.
Resources
Shakespeare Revolutionized: The First Hundred Years of J. Thomas Looney's Shakespeare Identified by James A. Warren
https://www.amazon.com/SHAKESPEARE-REVOLUTIONIZED-Hundred-Shakespeare-Identified/dp/1733589430
"Warren to publish centennial book in 2020" Oberon weblog Feb. 28, 2020
http://oberonshakespearestudygroup.blogspot.com/2020/02/warren-to-publish-centennial-book-in.html
"Congratulations to SOF on March 4 2020 centennial celebration" Oberon weblog March 31, 2020
http://oberonshakespearestudygroup.blogspot.com/2020/03/open-letter-to-sof-re-march-4-2020.html
"SOF Symposium 2021: James Warren" Oberon weblog April 16, 2021
James Warren video presentation "J. Thomas Looney and the Most Revolutionary Book in the History of Shakespeare Studies" at Shakespeare Identified Centennial Symposium, March 4, 2020
James Warren video presentation at SOF Symposium April 10, 2021: "The Oxfordian Movement and Academia", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qoyz4V5UNU0