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The De Vere Society
I am sort of haunted by the conviction that the divine William is the biggest and most successful fraud ever practised on a patient world.
Henry James — novelist We champion the evidence that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, was the true author behind the Shakespeare name.
Welcome to The de Vere Society
‘We all love Shakespeare, whoever he was.’ – Sir Derek Jacobi, Patron
The de Vere Society is a registered charity promoting knowledge of the life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, a Tudor playwright praised by Queen Elizabeth I for his ‘outstanding mind and virtue’ and hailed by King James I as ‘Great Oxford’. His contemporaries awarded the ‘highest prize’ to his works, but what has become of them? If you are interested in the proposition that de Vere’s ‘lost’ plays are those which now bear the name ‘William Shakespeare’, please join us, participate, investigate and celebrate – new members and enquirers are very welcome! – Alexander Waugh
“For all your Writers do consent, that ipse is he:
now you are not ipse, for I am he.”
Touchstone to William in As You Like It, V. i.
Famous doubters
Quotes from Famous Sceptics
Poets, philosophers, actors and Nobel laureates — click any portrait to discover why they doubted the Stratford man.
Famous Sceptic
Sir Derek Jacobi
"Where did this Shakespeare come from? Where did all that knowledge and eloquence and truth come from? … I believe Edward de Vere and not William Shakespeare [of Stratford] wrote Richard II and, in fact, all the plays attributed to the man from Stratford."
Famous Sceptic
Sir Mark Rylance
"Any friend of 'Shakespeare' is a friend of ours! In signing the Declaration of Reasonable Doubt along with over 4,500 others to date, we merely want to set the record straight about why some of us have our doubts."
Famous Sceptic
Keanu Reeves
"I've always wanted to know since I was growing up who really wrote the plays of Shakespeare … I don't think it was William Shakespeare, I'm an Edward de Vere-ian, so the Earl of Oxford."
Famous Sceptic
Robin Williams
"You think about William Shakespeare, you think a man basically with a second grade education wrote some of the greatest poetry of all times? I think maybe not."
Famous Sceptic
Charlie Chaplin
"In the work of the greatest geniuses, humble beginnings will reveal themselves somewhere but one cannot trace the slightest sign of them in Shakespeare … Whoever wrote [Shakespeare] had an aristocratic attitude."
Famous Sceptic
Sigmund Freud
"I no longer believe that … the actor from Stratford was the author of the works that have been ascribed to him … I am almost convinced that the assumed name conceals the personality of Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford."
Famous Sceptic
Sir Roger Penrose
"The [Looney] book made a very strong case – I think I am rather persuaded that … it was Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford … I went to see The Tempest … and that seemed to me very clearly a play where the author had personal experience of being shipwrecked."
Famous Sceptic
Mark Twain
"How curious and interesting is the parallel – as far as poverty of biographical details is concerned – between Satan and Shakespeare … They are the best-known unknown persons that have ever drawn breath upon the planet."
Tributes to our late Chairman Alexander Waugh
View our tribute page dedicated to the memory of Alexander Waugh, a distinguished scholar, esteemed expert, and cherished friend.
Alexander’s profound contributions to literature, his insightful research, and his unwavering passion for knowledge have left an indelible legacy in the academic world and beyond.
Here, we gather heartfelt tributes from fellow scholars, colleagues, and friends who had the privilege of knowing and working with Alexander.
Member stories
Every Oxfordian
has a story
A moment of curiosity. A question that wouldn't go away.
Members share how they first encountered the Shakespeare Authorship Question and what led them to believe that Edward de Vere was the true author. What's your story?
▶ Open competition — submit your story
Record a short 3–4 minute video and email it to substack@deveresociety.co.uk by 31st May 2026. The winner receives a limited edition Great Oxford Box Set.
Stories so far
Ron Destro
Becoming Oxfordian
Katherine De Vere
Becoming Oxfordian
Allan Armstrong
Becoming Oxfordian
Alevi Peña
Becoming Oxfordian
Jessica Lee
Becoming Oxfordian
Cheryl Eagan-Donovan
Becoming Oxfordian
Shirin Crew
Becoming Oxfordian
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DVS
Scholarship & debate
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Submit an article →Latest posts
Video Free
Becoming Oxfordian — Alexander Jones
The latest member to share their Oxfordian story — what led Alexander Jones to believe that Edward de Vere was the true author of Shakespeare's works.
Essay Free
Know You the Hand
Roger Stritmatter continues his groundbreaking series on the Audley End annotations — deepening the case that the Tudor library holds the key to Shakespeare's true identity.
New series Members only
The Shakespeare Revolution – Extract Five
Richard Malim continues his landmark series, deepening the case for Edward de Vere as the true author behind the works of Shakespeare.
Latest from the society
Oxfordian News
✦
Oxfordian news
Tribute to Earl Showerman by Kevin Gilvary
The DVS mourns the death of Earl Showerman on 2 August 2026 — remembered for his remarkable understanding of Shakespeare and his infectious enthusiasm for the Oxfordian cause. Kevin Gilvary pays tribute to a scholar who gave much to the authorship debate.
Oxfordian news
In Memory of Christopher Dams, Devoted Oxfordian (1934–2026)
The DVS mourns the passing of Christopher Dams, a cherished member since the 1990s and a warm and welcoming presence at society events for three decades.
Oxfordian news
The Truth Will Out Wins at the Los Angeles Film Awards
The documentary exploring the Shakespeare authorship question has been named a winner in the Documentary Feature category at the LA Film Awards for February 2026.
New series
The Shakespeare Revolution — Extract Two Now Live
The next instalment of Richard Malim's landmark series is now live on our Substack channel, Shakespeare Identified, continuing his exploration of the early life of Edward de Vere.
Among many benefits, as a member of the de Vere Society you will:
25 Oct 2025
26 Apr 2025