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Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Spurious and doubtful works Books
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A Yorkshire Tragedy
"A Yorkshire Tragedy" by William Shakespeare is a domestic tragedy written in 1605. This dark Jacobean play tells the harrowing story of a Yorkshire gentleman who descends into ruin through gambling and vice. Based on the real-life crimes of Walter Calverley, who murdered his own children, the play explores how one man's moral collapse destroys his family. Originally performed by Shakespeare's company at the Globe Theatre, this brief but brutal work examines domestic violence and financial ruin with unflinching intensity, though modern scholars attribute it to Thomas Middleton rather than Shakespeare.
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The Puritan Widow
"The Puritan Widow" is a Jacobean stage comedy first published in 1607. Attributed to "W.S." on its title page, this anonymous play has been linked to both Shakespeare and Thomas Middleton, though modern scholars favor Middleton's authorship. The story follows Lady Plus, a demonstrative Puritan widow, and her calculating family as they navigate grief, marriage prospects, and social ambition. Meanwhile, a group of clever rogues—including a poor scholar and discharged soldiers—plot to deceive the wealthy widow through cons involving fortune-telling and wizardry, setting the stage for satirical comedy.
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The London Prodigal
"The London Prodigal" by William Shakespeare is a play published in 1605. This city comedy follows Matthew Flowerdale, a merchant's son who squanders his life through gambling, theft, and debauchery. When his father feigns death to witness his son's corruption firsthand, Matthew's schemes lead him into a disastrous marriage and mounting debt. Through his loyal wife's devotion, the prodigal faces a reckoning. Though attributed to Shakespeare, scholars widely reject his authorship, considering it part of the Shakespeare apocrypha.
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The Merry Devil of Edmonton
"The Merry Devil of Edmonton" by William Shakespeare is an Elizabethan-era comedy likely written between 1600-1604. The play centers on the magician Peter Fabell, known as the Merry Devil, who uses his magical powers to aid young lovers in their romantic schemes. When Sir Arthur Clare attempts to send his daughter Milliscent to a nunnery to prevent her arranged marriage, Raymond Mounchensey disguises himself as a friar and enlists Fabell's supernatural help to win her hand, leading to deception, romance, and unexpected twists.
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