Selects: Did Shakespeare really write all that stuff?

The debate over whether William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon was the true author of his plays persists due to a perceived lack of biographical documentation, such as the absence of personal manuscripts or literary references in his will. Skeptics often cite class-based arguments, questioning how a man with limited formal education could possess the extensive knowledge of court life, foreign lands, and military exploits found in the works. Proposed alternatives, including Francis Bacon, Edward de Vere, and Christopher Marlowe, remain popular among "anti-Stratfordians," though these theories frequently devolve into speculative code-breaking or conspiracy-driven narratives. Conversely, proponents of the traditional authorship view point to contemporary testimonials, such as Ben Jonson’s preface in the First Folio, and the historical context of the era to support the conclusion that the man from Stratford was indeed the singular genius behind the canon.