A newly released book is reigniting one of literature’s most enduring debates, claiming William Shakespeare was not the man history remembers, but a Black, Jewish woman.
In The Real Shakespeare: Emilia Bassano Willoughby, author Irene Coslet argues the legendary playwright’s works were written by Emilia Bassano, a dark-skinned English poet of Jewish heritage who lived during the Elizabethan era.
The book challenges the long-held image of Shakespeare as a white man from Stratford-upon-Avon, suggesting generations of scholars have overlooked historical records pointing to Bassano as the true author behind the famous plays and poems.
According to the book’s description, Coslet draws on a fresh examination of archival documents to support her theory, presenting what she says is extensive evidence that Bassano penned the Shakespearean canon.
The argument goes beyond authorship, placing Bassano within the broader social and political context of the time. The book claims feminism already existed in Elizabethan and Jacobean England and suggests the works traditionally attributed to Shakespeare defended women’s rights and perspectives. It also explores Bassano’s reported connections to the royal court, including Queen Elizabeth I.
Shakespeare, who lived from 1564 to 1616, is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the English language, with his plays and poetry still taught and performed worldwide. His life has long been scrutinised, fuelling alternative theories about whether he was a front for another writer.
Official records state Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at 18 and had three children — Susanna, Hamnet and Judith — details often cited by scholars who reject claims of alternative authorship.
Coslet’s book, set for release on March 30, is the latest addition to a long line of works questioning who really wrote the words that shaped English literature.
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