E Barnacle--

I did say that all sides in our discussion agree, I believe--( I certainly do--) that the person who wrote the Shakespeare canon was a genius. Our only point of dispute is who that person was.

As to whether the successful actor, impresario, and landowner of Stratford was also the person in question, there are many problems.

We're asked to assume:

1) Shakespeare taught himself virtually all he knew on a huge array of subjects.
2) He however had no need for books on a permanent basis--had none to bequeath (nor plays, of course)
3) His genius was totally hidden until he burst on the scene at about age 28.
4) When he died, although he was a genius and had written many popular plays, no literary figure took any notice for several years (7 years?) (including Ben Jonson, alleged to be a good friend.)

etc.

After a while the assumptions just become too great.