Who Was Shakespeare?

Who was Shakespeare? Was he a simple illiterate bard? Or was he an earl, born of sophistication and eloquence? It has been an argument that has spanned lifetimes. To some people it doesnt matter at all. He was just some random guy who wrote a bunch of good plays. To others it means everything. They are those who consider Shakespeare's works to be Western man's highest achievement in literature. "I am haunted by the conviction …

…ensemble--William Shakespeare, gentleman of Stratford. Anti-Stratfordians must rely solely upon speculation about what they think the "real" author should have been like, because they cannot produce one historical fact to bolster their refusal to accept who that author actually was. No matter how they try to ignore it or explain it away, the historical record -- all of it -- establishes William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon as the author of the works traditionally attributed to him.