Shakespeare's Edward III: An Early Play Restored to the Canon

"Edward III" was first published, anonymously, in 1596. Though most scholars now discern Shakespeare's hand in the play, academic uncertainties over "collaboration," "plagiarism", and "memorial reconstruction" have kept it firmly outside the canon. Now Eric Sams, whose "The Real Shakespeare" confirmed the playwright as a writer of popular plays from an early age as well as an assiduous reviser of his own work, offers a new edition that authenticates "Edward III" as Shakespeare's own, unaided work. As well as Shakespeare's full text, this edition includes a detailed synopsis, copious notes for the general reader, and a conspectus of previous commentary. In particular it presents a close analysis of many hundreds of resemblances classified under some 30 headings (such as antithesis, biblical and classical reference, imagery, favourite topics, vocabulary, word-play, manuscript characteristics and canonical parallels) that together identify the author beyond reasonable doubt. Now, in 1996 exactly 400 years after its first appearance, Edward III is restored to the stage, the literary world, the public, and to William Shakespeare himself. This controversial new edition should become the standard text for students and scholars, as well as for actors and directors eager for the challenge of a "new" Shakespeare play.