Delia Bacon

Delia Bacon
Delia Bacon (1811–1859) was an American writer and scholar best known for her controversial theory that William Shakespeare's plays were written by a group of authors, including Sir Francis Bacon, Walter Raleigh, and others. Her major work, "The Philosophy of the Plays of Shakespeare Unfolded" (1857), argued for this hypothesis and attracted attention in literary circles. Though her ideas were largely dismissed by scholars of her time, Bacon is considered one of the earliest proponents of the "Shakespeare authorship question." She struggled with mental illness and died in obscurity, but her work later gained renewed interest among some literary theorists.

Author's Books:


DIALOGUE I. SCENE. The road-side on the slope of a wooded hill near Fort Edward. The speakers, two young soldiers,—Students in arms. 1st Student. These were the evenings last year, when the bellFrom the old college tower, would find us stillUnder the shady elms, with sauntering stepAnd book in hand, or on the dark grass stretched,Or lounging on the fence, with skyward gazeAmid the sunset warble. Ah!... more...

PREFACE. This Volume contains the argument, drawn from the Plays usually attributed to Shakspere, in support of a theory which the author of it has demonstrated by historical evidences in another work. Having never read this historical demonstration (which remains still in manuscript, with the exception of a preliminary chapter, published long ago in an American periodical), I deem it necessary to cite... more...