Contemporary Academic Bacon book @ US 430.00! Editor is tunnel vision "Scholar" Alan Stewart

[Lawrence Gerald]

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-francis-bacon-i-9780198183136?q=oxford francis bacon&lang=en&cc=us

 

Mather Walker once reviewed a book that Stewart co authored with the dreadful Lisa Jardine

https://sirbacon.org/jardine.htm

[Light-of-Truth]

Mather Walker:

"There are things living on the bottom of ponds that have more insight into the mind of Francis Bacon than Lisa Jardine and Alan Stewart."

Mather, who does have great insight into the mind of Bacon, has a way with words. LOL

I'll not bother to read this book. Too many worthy books available that I have not read yet.

[Guest Ryan Murtha]

Well Stewart did give us a great piece of evidence in 2009, this hadn't been disclosed as far as I know, a 1599 pamphlet that explicitly claims Bacon was writing anonymously, you can read it here https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A22559.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext

I'm attaching Stewart's chapter in the 2009 book, it's definitely worth reading. Below is what I wrote about it.

An early claim that Bacon wrote anonymously occurred in 1599.[1] After English authorities published an account of a plot to poison Queen Elizabeth’s saddle, a pamphleteer ascribed the state’s “smooth penned pamphlet” to “M. Smokey-swynes flesh, at the instance of Sir. R.C” (i.e., Francis Bacon writing at the behest of Secretary of State Robert Cecil). This is rather strange, as Bacon had only published a small book of essays and religious meditations in his own name, very little to inform attribution of other tracts. The author is familiar with the London theatre, and claims to have witnessed the legal proceedings:

the course & manner of this seemed rather some such match as [Will] Kemp and his companions do handle on the stage, than the lively managing of a matter of truth in deed, which never would have needed such a playerlike correspondence in the actors, for even as Kemp and his fellows having before-hand studied to con their parts by rote, and each knows to keep his cue, and to frame his speech and manners according to his feigned function, even so was this fore-studied tragedy acted in Westminster hall . . . No marvel then is it that a smooth penned pamphlet is now come abroad, to revive the decaying credit of this late-made-matter, rather than that it should be holpen up, by the rhymings of some odd pot-poet or idle balladmaker.[3]

 

---

[1] Alan Stewart, “Rethinking Authorship through Collaboration” in Renaissance Transformations: The Making of Writing in Renaissance England. Eds. Margaret Healy and Thomas Healy. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009.

[3] 25. Anon, An Addition to the Reader’, The discoverie and Confutation of a Tragical Fiction, devysed and played by Edward Squyer (1599)

The_Making_of_Writing_in_Renaissance_Eng.pdf

[Light-of-Truth]

As a Baconian, I've learned long ago that we have a wide range of ideas and no two Baconians agree on everything.  I'll check out the link.

Have you looked at The Oxford Francis Bacon I? Is it worth reading, or looking into?

[Guest Ryan Murtha]

On 2/8/2022 at 1:39 PM, Light-of-Truth said:

Mather Walker:

"There are things living on the bottom of ponds that have more insight into the mind of Francis Bacon than Lisa Jardine and Alan Stewart."

I think we can dispense with the idea that they don't know what we know. To quote an eloquent American statesman, there are known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns. I assume if I know it, being an unschooled boob from middle America, Alan Stuart knows it. 

[Rob at 007]

When Lawrence and I discussed a Baconian forum, there was a purpose.

Baconians are all over the place, different ideas, we share some concepts, disagree on others. It's hard to say what the common ground is. Plenty of us, but spread out, no cohesive community.

Admiring Bacon's mind is one thing we agree on, his works another.

Did Bacon write Shakespeare? Not all agree.

Was Bacon born a Prince? Not all agree. 

Was Bacon brilliant, changed the direction of Western civilization? We all agree? Maybe not even on that.

Yet a vast amount of research and well documented work has been done in the name of leaving Bacon's legacy for the future ages. And continues today.

In the meantime, Bacon-haters pump out lies and false information, often backed by very fat budgets and selfish agendas trying to hide the Truth about Bacon and his life, whatever it is. When I started it was "Avon" that was the money-making entity to overcome. Now it appears to be a crazy rich Hollywood clique who wants the Oxy laughing gas limelight. (Sorry...)

So here we are, a brand new Baconian forum hoping Baconians from all thoughts contribute. The dream is we all stay open minded, learn from each other, love each other, and ultimately offer to the internet and the future of humanity what we know collectively. Or at least what we believe. We've never had a place we can all share our thoughts and research without being attacked by the vicious Strat and Oxie wolves who have skilled experience in scaring and intimidating we Baconians who have no community to support us. Lawrence and I will ban offenders, so we are free to talk about Baconian things. Believe that, it is rule number ONE. 

That said, among us, as much as we agree and disagree, let's have it. Make a claim, back it up. Dispute a claim, back it up. This is about discussion, and it needs to be free for us. We may argue among ourselves, agree and disagree, maybe when productive come to agreeing ideas after discussion. Come to an answer! Make sense?

We are at the beginning of something that is needed, and hopefully none of us feels we cannot say what we think. Whatever we say may be challenged or questioned, which is expected. Sometimes we may hit the mark and have applause. 

The goal is the give Bacon his due, on whatever level is his. Long overdue for sure.

This IS the place. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

[Light-of-Truth]

Just poking around, I wonder what Stewart's position is now. He said of Bacon, "But the man could not write a play." See:

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/podcasts/60-minutes-shakespeare/sir-francis-bacon-and-shakespeares-authorship/

Transcript

Stewart: Francis Bacon was an early and leading contender in the hunt to find the man who could have written Shakespeare’s plays. He fits the bill in many ways. The dates are right: Bacon was born in 1561, three years before Shakespeare, and he lived until 1626, helpfully long enough to have seen the First Folio into print three years earlier. More importantly, he possessed the intellectual scope and ambition to be worthy of those plays. He once wrote that he had taken all knowledge to be his province, and he achieved success in his lifetime in multiple fields: as a courtier, a politician, parliamentarian, lawyer, essayist, natural philosopher—indeed, he is the father of modern science. 

But the man could not write a play. We know this because he penned some court entertainments, and they are sadly static affairs in which stock characters—a hermit, a soldier, a secretary—stand and deliver set pieces about the joys of being a hermit, a soldier, a secretary. There’s not a trace here of the grasp of plot, character, nuance, conflict that we expect in Shakespeare’s plays. In short, Francis Bacon had no drama.

Bacon had no drama? Knowing his life?

Ryan, you have earned some ooomph here, we see your work, your research, footnotes, etc. You have earned my respect, for sure. Do you agree with Stewart? If not, that is OK. Could Bacon write a play?

I have not read much by Stewart, a bit here and there. I have not listened to the podcast, but the website is blatantly expressing he does not believe Bacon could write a play. Maybe they are misrepresenting what he says in the podcast?

So far, Walker's review agrees with most of his reviews on Google and book forums. "Great research, but he doesn't like Bacon or give him credit" kind of stuff.

Share what you think, please. 🙂

Thank you!!!

 

[A Phoenix]

Rob,

Your 'Baconian Manifesto' is a stirring, moving and emotional document which acts as clarion call to Baconians all around the world.

Magnificent - thank you! 🙂❤️👍