In today’s post I review the latest academic work on the identity of Robert Greene’s Upstart Crow, which plays a crucial role in establishing Shakespeare’s early participation in the theater. In a peer reviewed article published in 2020 Peter Bull provides a comprehensive argument that the Greene’s Crow was not Shakespeare but instead was Edward Alleyn, leading actor with the Admiral’s men. As Bellamy finds anagrams in Greene that appear to confirm the reference to Shakespeare I review his analysis and show that equally valid anagrams support the Alleyn identification offered by Bull. The passage was identified as a reference to William Shakespeare by antiquary Thomas Tyrwhitt in 1778 and has since been accepted as a cornerstone of Shakespeare biography. Bellamy considers the Crow passage in his book length treatment of anagrams, Shakespeare’s Verbal Art, and finds support for the traditional identification with the young actor Shakespeare.

Source: The Guardian November 28, 2023 15:29 UTC