Henry Wriothesley and Trixie, c.1601-1603.
Painted by John de Critz the Elder.

After a month’s hiatus, I’ve returned to blog again!

And now, thanks to the English Department of The College of New Jersey, I can link my extracurricular interest in Shakespeare and the Authorship Question with my academic studies.

This summer semester, I will be researching the dashing nobleman pictured here: Henry Wriothesley, the Third Earl of Southampton.  Why?  For the same reason Charlotte Carmichael Stopes professed in her book,

The Life of Henry, Third Earl of Southampton, Shakespeare’s Patron

“I must confess that I did not start this work for [Wriothesley’s] sake, but in the hope that I might find more about Shakespeare…”(Stopes ).

Shakespeare’s narrative poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, were both dedicated to Henry Wriothesley.  Additionally, many scholars identify Wriothesley as the “Fair Youth” in seventeen of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Unfortunately, according to Ms. Stopes, her venture was not as fruitful as she’d anticipated.  But that was back in 1922.  Since then, documents and personal letters connected to the Third Earl of Southampton have surfaced, giving subsequent scholars the opportunity to draw their own conclusions.

What sort of relationship, if any, did the poet/playwright have with this nobleman?  Is there any proof that the writer and his muse ever even met?  I will do some digging and blog about my findings.  I will also post the seventeen “procreation sonnets” and include some interesting interpretations, as well.

Xavier Samuel as Southampton and Rhys Ifans as Oxford, in Sony Picture’s 2011 film “Anonymous.”

Additionally, I will explain the Prince Tudor theory, since Southampton plays a role in this controversial concept that divides Oxfordians.  (Note: Those of you who’ve seen the 2011 film, Anonymous, viewed a dramatization of a Prince Tudor variant referred to as PT II.)

So, if you enjoy learning about the history that resides between the lines, I cordially invite you to follow my independent study project: The Summer of Southampton.