“How I Became an Oxfordian” is a periodic series of essays from members about the origins of their interest in the Shakespeare Authorship question. Every Oxfordian has his or her own story about the events that led to that moment of recognition when it became clear that Oxford had to be the real Shakespeare. Every Oxfordian’s story is unique and an inspiration to other Oxfordians and to people new to the authorship question. Bob Meyers, President Emeritus of the National Press Foundation, is editor of this series and wants to hear from you about how you became an Oxfordian. SOF members, send your essay (500 words or less in an editable form such as a Word document), along with a digital photo of yourself to communications@shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org.
Esther Singleton (1865-1930), was a prolific American author and journalist. Her dozens of books included topics such as furniture, European cities, and The Shakespeare Garden. Singleton‘s
I have been convinced Shaksper did not write Shakespeare since I came across Dorothy and Charlton Ogburn Jr.’s book Shake-speare, the Man Behind the Name
My name is Piet-Hein Zijl, living in Zaanstad, a town just north of Amsterdam, Holland. My age is 69, I worked as a teacher and
My fascination with Oxford/Shakespeare was a coup de foudre, a sudden jolt. My first brush with Shakespeare came years ago, when as a young woman
I read my first Shakespeare play when I was fourteen. In those days, Julius Caesar was a high-school freshman’s first exposure to the great playwright. At that
December 6, 2016 My first exposure to Shakespeare occurred at our children’s library in a dark paneled room with leaded-glass windows. Searching through the shelves,
Our October 25 installment of “How I Became an Oxfordian” featured a contest in which readers were invited to guess the true identity of a
I heard of the Authorship Question in 1999-2000 reading a small brochure bought at the Globe, with the seductive portrait of Edward de Vere painted
November 8, 2016 It’s rare for a high school English teacher to mention that there is any doubt about the identity of William Shakespeare, but
He’s back, and we’ve got him! Yes, the famous Mr. W.H., he of onlie begetter fame, has generously and pseudonymously offered up this essay, telling
Why does authorship matter? Well, why does truth matter? It matters because story is tied to truth by a thousand fine threads, adding complexity and
I have had the good fortune to have been an Oxfordian for about fifty-five years, longer than most of our persuasion. When I was a
Starting at the beginning: In College I enjoyed literature and was thinking of making it my minor study. Shakespeare was virtually the only author without
Several years ago I read a column by Joseph Sobran. I could tell he was really upset when he explained that the man he had
It all started because I was feeling sorry for myself. I now spend most of my time writing: novels, plays, and articles—everything except poetry, in
It is a habit of mine to note, with each book I buy, the date of purchase on its first blank page. And so I
