Why do so many people question the authorship of the works of William Shakespeare? The answer may be found in this booklet and the references on pages 34 and 35. The Shakespeare Authorship Controversy has been the subject of heated debate for many years. This elementary introduction to the controversy challenges the conventional wisdom that .... William Shakspere of Stratford-upon-Avon was the undisputed author of the plays of .... William Shakespeare. Anyone with natural curiosity will find the case for Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, as the real William Shakespeare, a fascinating subject for further exploration.