What’s in a name? The paradox of Shakespeare, an undisputed genius whose identity is still in doubt.
by Hugh Trevor-Roper
The large collection of the papers of the distinguished historian, Hugh Trevor-Roper, Lord Dacre of Glanton, is held in the archive of Christ Church, Oxford. It contains documents relating to his career, research and publications, and extensive correspondence. Two bulky ‘Shakespeare’ files held in this collection are evidence of his sustained interest in the authorship question. They include an affidavit he wrote for a court case brought by Baconians in 1969 (a summons against the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust under the Trades Description Act) and extensive correspondence with a wide range of fellow sceptics including leading Oxfordians Charlton Ogburn and Charles Beauclerk. In a letter he wrote to Sir Ian McGeough in 1987 he stated his dilemma: “Between the incredibility of the Stratford man and the elusiveness of the inherently more probable Oxford, I stand immobile, paralysed, like Buridan’s ass.”
In What’s in a Name? which dates from 1969, he brings to bear all his skills as a historian, as well as his deep familiarity with the Shakespeare canon. Beginning with a deft summary of the biographical discrepancies which give cause for doubt, he proceeds to a forensic survey of the works, in search of the author ‘whoever he was.’
The article is reproduced here by kind permission of Professor Blair Worden, Lord Dacre’s literary executor. He suggests that a good article could be written about Trevor-Roper’s engagement with, and correspondence about, the authorship controversy. Access to the relevant files: Dacre Papers 6/22 (i) and (ii) may be arranged through the Christ Church archivist Judith Curthoys. Click here to view the archive.
Julia Cleave
PDF of article: “What’s in a Name,” by Sir Hugh Trevor-Roper