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'Lost' Shakespeare Play Published

Double Falsehood is no hoax, experts say

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2010 2:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Shakespeare play dismissed as a hoax for nearly 300 years has now been accepted as the real thing. Double Falsehood, now under the name of writer Lewis Theobal, was—as its author always claimed—based on William Shakespeare's long-lost script for Cardenio, scholars say. Shakespeare publisher Arden has now published the play under the Bard's name and made it available in a fully annotated form for the first time in 250 years.

"I think Shakespeare's hand can be discerned in Act One, Act Two and probably the first two scenes in Act Three of the play," a Shakespeare expert told the BBC, calling it a "flawed" work due to Theobald's tinkering with the Shakespeare script. The romantic tragi-comedy, based on a section of Don Quixote, will be performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company next summer.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), circa 1600. (Getty Images)

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The good old Master of the English Drama is by a kind of Miracle recall’d from his Grave, and given to us once again. - 1727 review of Double Falsehood

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

phil

Mar 16, 2010 11:04 AM CDT

I've read it. It simply doesn't read like Shakespeare. The writing is good, but not Shakespeare. I mean it's clearly not him. It could be based on some notes he might have made, but this is not his writing. Maybe he sketched something out and abandoned it. It's certainly not worth celebrating. If he didn't like it enough to finish it, then well, it already failed the first important test.

postroad

Mar 16, 2010 10:41 AM CDT

Newser, once again, gives an excerpt but for those wanting a full article, no link to source provided.

finkster

Mar 16, 2010 9:54 AM CDT

To find my long lost script or not to find my long lost script....that is the question.

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'Lost' Shakespeare Play Published