tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6942147318185235475.post8942139898220631141..comments2024-03-05T10:34:30.182-05:00Comments on The Marlowe-Shakespeare Connection: The Mysterious Connection Between Thomas Nashe, Thomas Dekker, and T. M.: An English Renaissance Deception?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6942147318185235475.post-30501892591347758972012-12-02T23:32:33.239-05:002012-12-02T23:32:33.239-05:00I think that all this enormous amount of literary ...I think that all this enormous amount of literary work was created by one individual. It is hard to believe, but it is true, there was no collaboration with other people, but a lot of talent and hard work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6942147318185235475.post-609963656959786932012-11-28T11:18:30.473-05:002012-11-28T11:18:30.473-05:00Hi, Donna. I read the first 30 pages of your book...Hi, Donna. I read the first 30 pages of your book which are available online, and I saw that you did address the handwriting issue. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you another question. Both Nashe and Dekker are mentioned frequently in Henslowe's diaries. Now Philip Henslowe certainly knew Thomas Nashe. If Nashe assumed the persona of Dekker, why would Henslowe refer to him as such in his private diaries? Especially during the period when Nashe was still alive? And practically everyone in London knew Nashe - how would he have managed to create this new life for himself without the authorities getting wise?<br /><br />I'm not trying to be difficult; it's just that if these questions occur to me, I'm sure they will to others as well. By the way, I was very impressed with your finding so many parallel passages in Nashe's and Dekker's works. I haven't read much of Dekker aside from "The Shoemaker's Holiday," "The Wonderful Year," and "News From Hell." I have to admit - he does sound a lot like Nashe! Dekker's complete works are available online at luminarium.org, so maybe I'll read some more. daver852https://www.blogger.com/profile/06067533090226229731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6942147318185235475.post-82424945103338665802012-11-27T17:59:31.478-05:002012-11-27T17:59:31.478-05:00You raise very legitimate points, which I address ...You raise very legitimate points, which I address in detail in Part VI of my book “Pros and Cons.” To answer briefly, it didn’t take much to make Meres’ lists, and during 1598 before publication of “Palladis Tamia,” Dekker authored/co-authored nine plays which may have included tragic elements (all we have are the titles). In particular, in Jan. 1598 Dekker wrote “Phaeton,” which was later revised for court performance. That sounds like a well-received tragedy, and it alone could have garnered Dekker a nod from Meres.<br /><br />My premise is that Nashe adopted the Dekker persona in order to be able to reenter London after the summer of 1597 when he was banished from it, but that he didn't permanently become Dekker and kill himself off until after he was banned from all future publishing in the summer of 1599. Nashe "died" between then and 1601, but we don't know when his "death" occurred during that interval.<br /><br />The handwriting of Nashe and Dekker does appear quite different, but there are some interesting similarities. Also, don’t forget the handwriting ruse in “Twelfth Night.” Moreover, it is now accepted that Sir Philip Francis wrote under the pseudonym “Junian” during 1769-72, but for a long time many people didn’t believe it because the handwriting of the “two” looked so different.Donna Murphynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6942147318185235475.post-78900922003479769282012-11-27T14:32:24.832-05:002012-11-27T14:32:24.832-05:00I agree that there are stylistic similarities betw...I agree that there are stylistic similarities between Nashe and Dekker, but there are several several reasons that make it appear that it is impossible that they are the same person. It is thought that Nashe died either very late in the year 1600 or in early 1601. Dekker was already an established writer at this time. The earliest mention of him appears to be in Henslowe's diaries in January, 1598, but he must have been writing long before that date, since Meres ranks him among one of "the best for tragedy" in "Palladis Tamia." Furthermore, we have many surviving autograph writings of both Nashe and Dekker. I'm no graphologist, but their handwriting doesn't appear to be even remotely similar.daver852https://www.blogger.com/profile/06067533090226229731noreply@blogger.com