The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 9.0223  Friday, 13 March 1998.

From:           David R. Maier <
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Date:           Thursday, 12 Mar 1998 18:14:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject:        Authorship of Titus Andronicus

In introducing his review of a local Portland, Oregon production,
Steffen Silvis, writing in Willamette Week, a Portland newspaper, had
this to say about *Titus Andronicus*:

"Questions about Shakespeare's authorship of *Titus* were raised early.
In the preface to his botched revision of the play in 1687, Edward
Ravenscroft wrote that one 'anciently conversant with the stage'
informed him that the play was the work of another, and that Shakespeare
merely ennobled it with 'some master-touches.'  It takes no effort to
agree with Ravenscroft's assessment that the play 'is the most incorrect
and indigested piece...it seems rather a heap of rubbish than a
structure.' *Titus Andronicus* is a heap of rubbish, where one can, on
occasion, scrounge up treasure, though the most likely candidate for
authorship is playwright George Peale."

Studiously avoiding the general Shakespeare authorship issue, I would
appreciate any comments regarding Mr. Silvis's fair certainty that
Shakespeare did not write Titus Andronicus.

David Maier

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