‘Don Foster's "invention" by computer of an additional Shakespearean poem some years ago was rightly demolished by Ron Rosenbaum’. (posting by DN)

 

Once again on a question of Shakespearean authorship, I suggest ‘wait and see’. I believe Don Foster is to return to the subject. I believe Richard Abrams will too. The Ford attribution is beset with difficulties. There are indeed many of his stylistic tricks in the poem, arrived at by the same kind of ‘computer analysis’ that was used to attribute the poem to Shakespeare, but the phrasing and tone of the preface, and the content of the poem (see Upstart Crow 22, 2002), do not match his biographical profile. Joint authorship, as half-indicated in Giles Monsarrat’s analysis, may prove the answer.

Penny.