"As if a Man Were Author of Himself"

Alternative title: Shakespeare and Marlowe: Attributing ‘Henry VI’ Authorship
Synopsis: Podcast from the Folger Shakespeare Library. In 2016 Oxford University Press caused some controversy deciding that, in the New Oxford Shakespeare, the plays Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3 would no longer be listed as having been written by Shakespeare alone. Instead the title pages will say: "By William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe." Advances in computer science have enabled scholars to find, with much greater certainty, the fingerprints that we think tell us definitively who wrote which plays and even who wrote which acts within the plays, throwing open the idea that Shakespeare was a solo genius in charge of it all. Guests are Folger Director Michael Witmore and Eric Rasmussen, chair of the English department at the University of Nevada, Reno. In 1987 Rasmussen edited all three of the Henry VI plays, which were published as part of Arden Shakespeare series. They are interviewed by Barbara Bogaev.
Series: Shakespeare Unlimited
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Audio
Recording date: 21 Feb 2017
Duration: 35 mins

Notes: Podcast: http://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited-episode-67 (accessed 02/2017).
Textual information: Transcript available for download.

Online URL: http://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited/christopher-marlowe-attribution-henry-vi

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British Universities Film & Video Council