02320cam a22002893u 45000010005000000030007000050050017000120060002000290070005000310080041000360400011000770410017000880500007001051000028001122450050001402640051001903000047002413360026002883370026003143380036003405000031003765080118004075201349005255340045018746530069019198560042019882431UtSlPG20260610133058.0mcr n260607r2000||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPR1 aTwain, Mark,d1835-191010aIs Shakespeare Dead? :bFrom My Autobiography 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2000  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2000-12-01  aTranscribed from the 1909 Harper & Brothers edition by David Price. Proofing by Alan Ross, Ana Charlton and David  a"Is Shakespeare Dead?" by Mark Twain is a reflective and satirical treatise on the authorship of Shakespeare’s works, written during the early 20th century. In this work, Twain grapples with long-standing debates over who truly wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare, questioning the historical record and delving into the inconsistencies surrounding the poet's life. The narrative combines Twain's autobiographical anecdotes with a sharp critique of literary pretensions and the human tendency to believe in grand claims without substantial evidence.  The opening of the book introduces Twain's perspective on the elusive nature of historical truths, particularly regarding Shakespeare. He shares recollections of discussions with a passionate pilot named Ealer, who held firm beliefs about Shakespeare's authorship, which Twain initially supported. However, as the dialogue progresses, Twain's skepticism grows, leading him to adopt a more nuanced stance. He reflects on the contradictions in Shakespeare's background and the scant evidence of his literary genius, positing that the legendary figure may not have penned such profound works. This mix of humor and critique sets the stage for Twain's examination of the broader implications of literary legends and the nature of belief itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aShakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Authorship -- Baconian theory40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2431