Oberon Shakespeare Study Group

I just spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (shown above) at Yale University. This is an incredible building (the picture doesn't do it justice). I am amazed how all of these very rare books are displayed so openly (albeit in climate controlled areas behind unbreakable glass) instead of the fabled vaults of such institutions as the Folger or the Huntington. This library is currently doing an exhibition called "Remembering Shakespeare" until June 4, 2012 and I would urge anyone who is able to do it to go see it. More information is available at http://library.yale.edu/beinecke The exhibition explores how Shakespeare came to be remembered as the "world's most venerated author". It was curated by Professor David Kastan of the English department at Yale and by Kathryn James, the Beinecke Library curator. There are an amazing number of items in the exhibition, including two First Folios, copies of the Second,...

Book photo courtesy of Ros Barber The Marlowe Papers: a Novel in Verse by poet Ros Barber proposes Christopher Marlowe as the author of the Shakespeare canon. The book will be released as a Kindle ebook in the US on May 25, 2012 and will be published in hardcover by McMillan's St. Martin's Press in January 2013. The UK hardcover edition published by Sceptre is available now on Amazon.co.uk . The Marlowe Papers was reviewed as    "Bard Times: this novel in subtle verse will make one look back in wonder at an era of riddles, disguises, allusions and concealments"   by  Suzi Feay in the  May 19, 2012 edition of the Financial Times/London. Feay says: It’s enough to strike despair into the heart of James Shapiro, author of   Contested Will , as well as the hearts of all the other Shakespeare experts who refute the so-called “authorship controversy”. This novel, written entirely in fast-moving iambic pentameter, embellishes the notion that Christopher M...

Dear Oberoners, As you may be aware, Oberon meets the fourth Monday of the month as a rule. However, this month there is a holiday on that day (Memorial Day) and the library would prefer to be closed. Therefore, we will be meeting a week earlier, that is, this coming Monday, May 21. The place and time are the same as usual (6:45 PM at Bloomfield Township Library 1099 Lone Pine Road [corner of Lone Pine and Telegraph]). We will have a great time (as we always do). If you were at the last meeting (our Un-Birthday Party) you will recall that we began playing Oxfordian Jeopardy, but we only had time to play the first round. So we will plan to play Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy. The questions will be very challenging. I will also be prepared to discuss some of the highlights of the recent Authorship Studies Conference held last month in Portland, Oregon. We will discuss plans for an Oberon "road-trip" to Stratford, Ontario. And of course we will be abl...

Novelist and anti-Stratfordian Michael Prescott posted a thorough and enlightening review titled "Shreds from the Whole Piece" of two new books about the Shakespeare apocrypha --    The Apocryphal William Shakespeare ,  by Sabrina Feldman and  North of Shakespeare  by Dennis McCarthy -- on his blog May 1, 2012. I posted comments about Prescott's comparison of Shakespearean quartos with modern paperback books that I have copied here because I think the common comparison of sixteenth century quarto publications to twentieth century paperbacks is emblematic of the anachronistic mindset that hampers a true understanding of the entire Shakespeare authorship question. The entire exchange along with his outstanding post on the Feldman and McCarthy books is available on Prescott's blog at  http://michaelprescott.typepad.com/michael_prescotts_blog/2012/05/shreds-from-the-whole-piece.html . Linda Theil posted to  http://michaelprescott.typepad.com/michael_pre...

Edward de Vere bust commissioned by True Shakespeare founder Ben August Film-maker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan of Controversy Films thanks Oberon readers for their support and announced a matching pledge from backer True Shakespeare:  Thank you so much for your continued support of NOTHING IS TRUER THAN TRUTH. We are committed to bringing the true story of Shakespeare to audiences around the world. . . .  Our sponsor True Shakespeare has offered to match new donations to NOTHING IS TRUER THAN TRUTH made on his page up to $7,500 Please join us and tell your friends to go to the Edward de Vere-Shakespeare Facebook page to make a donation now:  https://www.facebook.com/ TrueShakespeare   With just 4 hours left, for our Finishing Funds campaign to be successful, we need more backers, including Associate Producer level backers. If you have any friends or colleagues who might be interested in joining the NOTHING IS TRUER THAN TRUTH team, . . . [click on]  https://...

From British TV listings for April 23, 2012: The King & The Playwright: A Jacobean History, BBC4, 9pm  World-renowned American scholar Professor James Shapiro re-examines the work of the world's greatest playwright during the troubled first decade of King James's reign, in this new three-part documentary series.  This is not the familiar Shakespeare of the time of Elizabeth, but the dark, complex Jacobean Shakespeare, at the height of his powers in truly turbulent times. . .    http://digiguide.tv/pick-of-the-day/23+April+2012 The King & The Playwright: A Jacobean History, BBC4, 9pm   A three-parter in which US professor James Shapiro looks at the influence of King James I on Shakespeare and his plays. During this time the Bard’s output reflected the troubled and unpredictable times ushered in but this new ruler, but being promoted to a King’s Player did wonders for his bank balance and profile (much to the chagrin of present-day schoolkids acr...

Lisa Wilson, co-director with Laura Wilson Matthias of the new Shakespeare authorship documentary Last Will. & Testament , announced this week that the film will air in the United Kingdom tomorrow, April 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. on SKY Arts 2 .  Wilson said she and Matthias are negotiating US distribution and will update viewers at their website First Folio Pictures and on their new Facebook page, Last Will. & Testament .  Wilson and Matthias showed Last Will. & Testament in their American premier at the Shakespeare Authorship Research Centre conference in Portland, Oregon on April 14, 2012. Wilson said: "Thanks to all who attended the Portland screening for your enthusiastic response and lively discussion!  Special thanks to Daniel Wright, Al Austin, James Gaynor, Dominic Toulouse, Earl Showerman and our great panel of contributors:  Hank Whittemore, Roger Stritmatter, Laura Wilson Matthias, Bill Boyle, and Michael Delahoyde." Oberon chairperson Richa...