July Books 6) Shakespeare's Handwriting: A Study, by Edward Maunde Thompson

[nwhyte]

...as for the Shakespearian MS., who could have made bold, any time within these last hundred and sixty years, to proclaim that he who would set eyes upon it need only raise his hand and take it down from its shelf in the Department of Manuscripts of the British Museum?
This is one of the classics of Shakespeariana and indeed of palæography, and

Comments

[eglantine_br]

Interesting. I find their handwriting difficult at best. I can read the italic hand at regular speed-- but the secretary messes me up.

It seems to me, that the simplest thing is that everyone is who they said they were. Shakespeare was himself, and wrote his plays. Also poor Marlowe was himself, and died in 1593, as described. (Although I think he was murdered on purpose.)

Oftentimes writers seem quite ordinary when they are about the town suing people, (as Shakespeare did.) He probably just seemed like a regular guy. But I bet he was very good at getting other people to talk about themselves. And I bet he asked a lot of very good questions.

[gareth_rees]

Two questions: blinding, controls?

[nwhyte]

One question in response: how?

[gareth_rees]

Cut the signatures into individual letters; mix randomly with other handwriting samples from the period. Ask experts to group the samples for each letter by person.