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All the world's a stage - but was Shakespeare
merely an actor?
by MARK RAINEY
 YOU might think there's very little new to
say about the most famous author in the English language.
But Lisburn author and magazine editor, Brian
McClinton, begs to differ and has released a controversial new
book which dares to suggest that William Shakespeare was not the
author of the classic works penned in his name.
The Shakespeare Conspiracies' is the result
of many years research and Brian's longstanding belief that
there is more to The Bard's perceived genius than meets the eye.
From first page to last Brian, who taught politics and economics
at Friends' School for 36 years, puts a strong argument for his
four hundred year old theory but as he admitted "I don't expect
an immediate conversion of the orthodox".
"Most of us are slow to admit we are wrong
about anything. I suppose the best I can hope to achieve with
the book is to sow the seeds of doubt and encourage people at
least to realise that there is a case to answer" the Lisburn man
said.
The main thrust of the book challenges the
belief that Shakespeare had the incomparable learning, high
degree of literacy and philosophical understanding to write some
of the greatest works in the history of English literature.
Despite the attempts of scholars, primarily
in England, to suppress any break with tradi-
tion, the author argues that William
Shakespeare led a much too ordi- nary life to write with such
worldly wisdom.
"My beliefs are certainly controversial, but
many famous literary figures such as Mark Twain and Walt Whitman
expressed similar doubts" Brian said.
Such 'heretics' attribute the collection of
classics to someone with a much stronger track record as a
philosopher and scholar at the time. As for who the mysterious
wordsmith behind the lengthy and elaborate deception actually
was? You will have to read the book to find out.
Ulster Star
27/06/2008
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