London , England ( CNN ) -- The idea that Shakespeare did not write the works attributed to him did n't surface until 1856 , 240 years after he died . Until then no one even suggested he might not have done so . The theory originated with an American woman , Delia Bacon , who spent a night in Holy Trinity Church , Stratford-upon-Avon trying to summon up the courage to open Shakespeare 's grave , apparently in the odd hope that its contents might help her case . She gave up with the morning light , and died not long afterwards in a lunatic asylum . Since then however the theory has spread , to such an extent that now at least 77 people have been suggested as the author of the works attributed to Shakespeare -- including such absurdities as Queen Elizabeth I and Miguel Cervantes , author of `` Don Quixote . '' For some time Francis Bacon was the leading candidate . He was supplanted by the poet and dramatist Christopher Marlowe , whose death in 1593 , when Shakespeare 's writings were just starting to appear , is one of the best recorded events in English literary history . The current favorite is Edward de Vere , seventeenth Earl of Oxford , who died in 1604 , whereas Shakespeare 's plays go on appearing until 1613 . An absurd story about him , suggesting that he was both the son of Elizabeth I and her lover , father by her of the Earl of Southampton as well as the author of Shakespeare , is told in the new film `` Anonymous , '' directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Vanessa Redgrave as the Queen . The theory flies in the face of a mass of historical evidence . Shakespeare is mentioned as the author of his poems and plays by at least fourteen contemporary writers . His name appears on the title pages of some 34 editions of plays and poems by him . Anecdotes about him as a writer are told by his contemporary playwright and poet Ben Jonson . In 1623 appeared the great First Folio edition printing 37 of his plays . It has a long poem in praise of Shakespeare written by Jonson , which refers to him as the Swan of Avon ( the name of the river of his town of birth ) . In Holy Trinity Church , Stratford-upon-Avon there is a monument to Shakespeare with inscriptions comparing him to great figures of antiquity and praising him as a writer . In spite of all this and more , conspiracy theories about him constantly emerge in the press and elsewhere . Most of them come not from scholars of literary history but from amateurs . Many scholars have remained aloof from the debate , though I , who have spent most of my life studying , editing , writing about and teaching Shakespeare , have taken part in numerous discussions and media debates of many kinds over the years . James Shapiro , of Columbia University , published an excellent book , Contested Will , about the subject last year -- fascinatingly investigating the psychology of some of the better-known doubters , such as Sigmund Freud and Mark Twain . Disturbingly , the topic has spread to universities . It is now possible to take courses in the authorship of Shakespeare at Concordia University , Vermont and Brunel University , England . Even more disturbingly the makers of the film are distributing to schools in America a study guide intended to sow seeds of doubt in the minds of schoolchildren . The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is the oldest organization devoted wholly to the man and his work . We are energetically pursuing a campaign to defend Shakespeare 's name , and have enlisted the help of many high profile figures , including the Prince of Wales , and a string of British actors and writers . We are about to launch a free e-book refuting the theory that Shakespeare did n't write his works -- we profoundly hope that when you read it you will be completely convinced that Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon ( 1564-1616 ) is the author of the great plays and poems which carry his name round the world .
New film 'Anonymous ' claims Shakespeare did not write works attributed to him . Wells : Claims Shakespeare was a fraud fly in the face of historical evidence . Classes questioning authenticity of Shakespeare now taught at university .