In Shakespeare studies, the question of authorship has long intrigued scholars and enthusiasts alike. A new book by John Hudson, a Shakespeare director with a ‘First’ honor degree from the University of Exeter and a graduate degree in Shakespeare and Theatre from the University of Birmingham, investigates this mystery.
Titled Shakespeare’s Dark Lady: Amelia Bassano Lanier, the Woman Behind Shakespeare’s Plays?, Hudson introduces a bold theory that suggests a Black Jewish writer may have penned the works attributed to William Shakespeare.1
His insights, along with evidence, challenge centuries-old views and open the door to a fresh perspective on the Bard’s legacy.
Who is Amelia Bassano Lanier?
According to Hudson, the famous plays and sonnets weren’t written by Shakespeare, but by a gifted and often forgotten woman: Amelia Bassano Lanier, a Black Jewish poet from Renaissance England.
Amelia Bassano Lanier, England’s first published female poet, is best known for her 1611 work Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum. In his research, Hudson suggests that Lanier wasn’t just Shakespeare’s “dark lady” from the sonnets, but also the secret writer of some of his most famous plays, like Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing.
She was born in 1569 to a family of Venetian Jews who served as musicians for Queen Elizabeth I. Around the age of thirteen, she became the mistress of 56-year-old Lord Hunsdon, who was believed to be the son of Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn.
Lanier’s Hidden Influence in Shakespeare’s Works
Hudson’s book explores the politics, culture, and ideas of 16th and 17th century England to back up his theory. He claims that Lanier had the right combination of talent and experience to write Shakespeare’s plays.
When Amelia became pregnant, she was sent away from the court and later appeared as the mysterious ‘dark lady’ in Shakespeare’s sonnets. At 42, she became the first woman to publish a book of original poetry, using language similar to what’s found in Shakespeare’s plays.
With her travels across Europe, including a stop in Denmark, and her ties to the English theater and royal court, Hudson presents Lanier as a highly skilled person whose life connected to many themes in Shakespeare’s writings.
Hudson believes that the plays’ critical views on Christianity reflect Lanier’s Jewish heritage that hint at her influence. Her knowledge of music and law also supports his idea, as many Shakespearean plays show expertise in these fields.
His deep research even reveals seven plays with Lanier’s signature, adding more mystery to his claim.
Was Lanier the True Author behind Shakespeare’s Plays?
Although many people may doubt this theory, as debates about who wrote Shakespeare’s works have existed for a long time, Hudson’s thorough research offers a new angle on the issue.
Hudson carefully compares Lanier to other possible candidates, like Edward de Vere and Christopher Marlowe, and argues that her life fits better with the writing of Shakespeare’s plays.
His book includes a detailed bibliography and visual aids, like a “knowledge map,” that connects different candidates to specific works, making it a thorough exploration of one of literature’s biggest mysteries.
Even if Lanier wasn’t the real author, her role as a trailblazing poet and her impact on literature are still important. Using historical evidence, Hudson’s bold and thought-provoking book brings together Tudor history, feminism, and Shakespeare studies to show that Amelia Bassano traveled to the right places and had the right knowledge, talent, and connections to have written Shakespeare’s works.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
