Scholars say Shakespeare was main author of Edward III
In short
- The 1596 history Edward III was published anonymously.
- Computerised textual analysis points to Shakespeare as the principal writer.
- The research also finds a major collaboration with Christopher Marlowe.
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The play was long thought to contain only a few scenes by Shakespeare. Researchers now argue, using computer analysis, that he wrote most of it. The findings also point to a major collaboration with his rival Christopher Marlowe.
From The Guardian
Exclusive: Play anonymously published in 1596 was collaboration between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, according to computer analysis Dramatic new evidence concludes that the play Edward III should be added to William Shakespeare’s canon, and also that it was a major collaboration with his contemporary rival Christopher Marlowe. The history was published anonymously in 1596, and it has long been thought that Shakespeare wrote at least a few scenes. However, Dr Rory Loughnane, a leading scholar and co-author of the research, told the Guardian that computerised textual analysis pushed...
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For kids
A very long time ago, a play called Edward III was printed without a writer's name. Some scholars now think William Shakespeare wrote most of it. They used computers to read the words and compare them. Talk about it: why do you think people wanted to know who wrote a story?
