is a Curator of Manuscripts at the British Library, and also teaches on the MA course in Early Modern English Literature at King's College London, in association with the London Shakespeare Centre. — View all posts by Arnold Hunt
Heather Wolfe
is Curator of Manuscripts at the Folger. She loves convincing people that they can read English secretary hand and sharing quirky and unexpected collection finds and stories. — View all posts by Heather Wolfe
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Did Ireland’s father find out about the forgery before he died?
Yes, Samuel found out about the forgeries, but refused to believe that his son was capable of creating them, even after William Henry published a detailed account of his deception in 1796! He died in 1800, still claiming to believe that the manuscripts and library were authentic.
Fascinating! I can’t help but surmise that the Ireland and Collier forgeries live on, in the false certainty that we know “beyond any reasonable doubt” that “Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare.”
Take away Ireland’s and Collier’s “discoveries,” consider the possibility that contemporary references to “Shakespeare” were references to the pseudonym, read Marcy North’s provocative book The Anonymous Renaissance, and you end up with some reasonable doubt!
We don’t believe there is any doubt that “Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare,” but at any rate, Ireland’s forgeries illustrate a wider point: the tendency of many critics and commentators over the centuries to read into Shakespeare what they want to find in him. And the personal stories of the forgers are so compelling–which is why Ireland especially has been the subject of so many biographies.
This is a fantastic post. Thank you! Why do you think the younger Ireland did not attempt to create a commonplace book ascribed to Shakespeare? Too ambitious?
I read somewhere, perhaps in Schoenbaum, that Malone believed such a commonplace existed and that was part of the reason he delayed his much-anticipated biography for so long. (I say that and now cannot find the reference, but I’m convinced I read that speculation).
Thank you both, again, for the wonderful idea and information here!
Actually, on 10 May 1795 young Ireland did produce for his father “Shakspeares Common place book of Mss—Ireland, home & arms 1600,” although it is currently untraced. Said father Samuel, “He brought me a small book in a parchment Cover, fasten’d with leather strings—& ye same by way of binding—filled with remarks of daily occurrences—a View of Irelands house, his Arms, &c &.—This book he was seen to be washing in ye kitchen as if to clear the Cover from dirt & afterwards dried it by ye fire.” (BL MS. Add. 30346, f. 85r)
The Ireland house herein is presumably that of the earlier William-Henry who pulled a drowning Shakespeare out of the Thames.
The commonplace book is thought to be the one now at Rosenbach Library and Museum, in Philadelphia (Rosenbach EL3 .I65 MS3). Arthur Freeman mentions it in his TLS essay (see the link in footnote 5).
I can’t thank the three of you enough. This is valuable information for my work. I’m currently writing a novelization of the American researchers Charles and Hulda Wallace during their time in Britain, and part of what the novel speculates is that the Wallaces might have been as fascinated by and obsessed with the idea of a commonplace book still to be found as was Malone (supposedly). I’m now planning a trip to Philadelphia to examine what young Ireland imagined such a document would look like. Again, I’m grateful.
Comments
Did Ireland’s father find out about the forgery before he died?
James — June 18, 2013
Yes, Samuel found out about the forgeries, but refused to believe that his son was capable of creating them, even after William Henry published a detailed account of his deception in 1796! He died in 1800, still claiming to believe that the manuscripts and library were authentic.
Heather Wolfe — June 19, 2013
Fascinating! I can’t help but surmise that the Ireland and Collier forgeries live on, in the false certainty that we know “beyond any reasonable doubt” that “Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare.”
Take away Ireland’s and Collier’s “discoveries,” consider the possibility that contemporary references to “Shakespeare” were references to the pseudonym, read Marcy North’s provocative book The Anonymous Renaissance, and you end up with some reasonable doubt!
Richard M. Waugaman, M.D. — June 19, 2013
We don’t believe there is any doubt that “Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare,” but at any rate, Ireland’s forgeries illustrate a wider point: the tendency of many critics and commentators over the centuries to read into Shakespeare what they want to find in him. And the personal stories of the forgers are so compelling–which is why Ireland especially has been the subject of so many biographies.
Heather Wolfe — June 20, 2013
This is a fantastic post. Thank you! Why do you think the younger Ireland did not attempt to create a commonplace book ascribed to Shakespeare? Too ambitious?
I read somewhere, perhaps in Schoenbaum, that Malone believed such a commonplace existed and that was part of the reason he delayed his much-anticipated biography for so long. (I say that and now cannot find the reference, but I’m convinced I read that speculation).
Thank you both, again, for the wonderful idea and information here!
Amos Magliocco — June 20, 2013
Actually, on 10 May 1795 young Ireland did produce for his father “Shakspeares Common place book of Mss—Ireland, home & arms 1600,” although it is currently untraced. Said father Samuel, “He brought me a small book in a parchment Cover, fasten’d with leather strings—& ye same by way of binding—filled with remarks of daily occurrences—a View of Irelands house, his Arms, &c &.—This book he was seen to be washing in ye kitchen as if to clear the Cover from dirt & afterwards dried it by ye fire.” (BL MS. Add. 30346, f. 85r)
The Ireland house herein is presumably that of the earlier William-Henry who pulled a drowning Shakespeare out of the Thames.
Carl Berkhout — June 20, 2013
The commonplace book is thought to be the one now at Rosenbach Library and Museum, in Philadelphia (Rosenbach EL3 .I65 MS3). Arthur Freeman mentions it in his TLS essay (see the link in footnote 5).
Heather Wolfe — June 21, 2013
Enjoyed your article, and loved the images. Best, j.
jeffrey kahan — June 21, 2013
I can’t thank the three of you enough. This is valuable information for my work. I’m currently writing a novelization of the American researchers Charles and Hulda Wallace during their time in Britain, and part of what the novel speculates is that the Wallaces might have been as fascinated by and obsessed with the idea of a commonplace book still to be found as was Malone (supposedly). I’m now planning a trip to Philadelphia to examine what young Ireland imagined such a document would look like. Again, I’m grateful.
Amos Magliocco — June 22, 2013