Following Brenda James's discovery of the true identity of the writer of Shakespeare's works, Henry Neville, John Casson has applied this to apocryphal works with startling results. He has thus discovered:
Neville's first nom-de-plume (before he used the name 'Shakespeare');
Shakespeare-Neville's first published poem: the Phaeton sonnet;
Shakespeare-Neville's first comedy: Mucedorus;
Shakespeare-Neville's first tragedies: Locrine and Arden of Faversham;
Shakespeare-Neville's first Falstaff: ten years before the Henry IV plays.
Dr. Casson also explores Thomas of Woodstock and A Yorkshire Tragedy, revealing the connections between them and Henry Neville's life and letters. He reclaims the lost play Cardenio in the surviving text of Double Falshood, showing that this is a genuine work by Shakespeare-Neville and John Fletcher.
After 400 years we can now see Shakespeare-Neville's artistic development before his early known works.
John Casson, PhD, is an independent researcher, psychotherapist and playwright.
"an outstanding achievement... lively and readable" ...
"If you enjoy solving puzzles, then this is a book for you. If you enjoy Shakespeare but wish there was more, then read this book."
Brenda James in her Foreword.
"a work of first class research and scholarship ... fascinating..."
Sir Derek Jacobi
