The author of a new book about William Shakespeare claims the legendary playwright’s works were not written by the man traditionally credited with them, but by a Black, Jewish woman.
In The Real Shakespeare: Emilia Bassano Willoughby, author Irene Coslet argues that Shakespeare was actually Emilia Bassano, a dark-skinned Jewish English poet who lived during the Elizabethan era.
According to the book’s Amazon description, which notes a release date of March 30, Coslet challenges the long-accepted belief that Shakespeare was “a white man from Stratford.”
“Debate still rages over the identity of the most beloved poet of all time and ‘father’ of the English-speaking world,” the description states. “Generations of researchers have tried to dismantle the myth of the Stratford man. Now, in this intriguing and well-documented book, Irene Coslet conclusively demonstrates that Shakespeare was not a man, but a woman: a dark-skinned lady of Jewish origin, born into a family of court musicians from Venice, and the mother of the English-speaking world. Her name was Emilia Bassano.”
Coslet says her conclusions are based on a reexamination of overlooked historical documents, which she argues provide extensive evidence that Bassano authored the Shakespearean canon.
The book also explores the social and political conditions faced by women during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. According to the description, it argues that feminist ideas already existed at the time Shakespeare was writing and claims Bassano not only wrote the works attributed to Shakespeare but also used them to defend women.
The book further places Bassano within her historical context, including an examination of her relationship with Queen Elizabeth I, presenting the argument as both a literary reassessment and a broader study of women’s roles in early modern England.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is widely regarded as the most famous writer in the English language. His plays and poetry continue to be studied, performed, and celebrated centuries after his death.
Due to his enduring fame and the complexity of his works, Shakespeare’s life has been closely examined, giving rise to various theories suggesting he may have been a fraud or a pen name for someone else.
Historical records show that Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at 18 and had three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith.
Fox News Digital contacted Coslet’s publisher for comment.
