December 8, 2020
I had help becoming an Oxfordian. My father, a hard-headed businessman, was interested in the authorship question. I remember at an early age finding a copy of Calvin Hoffman’s The Murder of the Man Who Was “Shakespeare” on our bookshelves. But the point was never pressed, either by my dad, or later, by my professors in college, where I majored in English.
Only one professor touched upon William Shakespeare the author. This prof was proud of his down-to-earth take on what he thought was the famous poet’s sole motivation to write: namely, to make money. That struck me as odd. A professor, with no background in business, thought William Shakespeare was primarily a businessman, while my father, a businessman, thought the opposite. Something didn’t add up!
Once out of college, and old enough to see that not all of my dad’s beliefs were old-fashioned, I read his copy of Charlton Ogburn’s The Mysterious William Shakespeare. More precisely, I listened to the book, as my wife read aloud to me on a cross-country road trip. That road trip converted both of us at one go. (Also instrumental was a trip to Castle Hedingham, the ancestral home of Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, which I think must one day take the place of Stratford.)
Indeed, the more I meet with Oxfordians, the more I’m fascinated with how each of us has found a “road” that leads to Edward de Vere. On the home front, for example, my wife is an avid horse rider (as am I), and is delighted by Shakespeare’s love of horses. Score one for Oxford, zero for Will of Stratford. A friend of mine who is currently homeschooling her child needs no more evidence than that Will Shakspere’s children were illiterate. Score another for Oxford, zero for Will.
Myself, I confess to a love of swing dance. Shakespeare’s plays are infused with dance! (During the London Globe’s latest production of Merry Wives, Falstaff and his tormentors danced … the Lindy Hop.) Score one more for Oxford, though he probably danced at a more dignified pace. Zero for poor Will of Stratford.
As a final note, I had the opportunity some years ago to teach Shakespeare to the cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The English Department at that time was headed by Professor Jack M. Shuttleworth, Ph.D. (now retired). Brigadier General Shuttleworth is a notable signatory of the Declaration of Reasonable Doubt, and a prominent Oxfordian.
I found it interesting that, in contrast to the majority of American college-level English departments, at least one collegiate forum in our country guaranteed complete academic freedom to explore this vital authorship question. And that was at a supposedly straitlaced military academy! I count myself privileged for that opportunity.
— Pete Swartz
“How I Became an Oxfordian” is a series edited by Bob Meyers. You may submit your essay on this topic (500 words or less in an editable format such as MS Word), along with a digital photo of yourself, to: communications@shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org. Also include a sentence about yourself, e.g.: “John Smith is a business owner in Dallas.” You must be an SOF member to submit an essay.
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