The Prologue - To the Reader

Although much has been written upon the authorship of the Shakespeare Works, it has been impossible hitherto for readers to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the subject without an excursion into fields of controversy of for bidding extent.

It has seemed to me, therefore, a worthy task to present to them in a single volume a critical study of the entire subject, and, also, a review of the work of fellow students who have preceded me.

To visualize my subject more vividly to them I have illustrated it pictorially, using much
of my material as it was originally produced, though inar tistic; some of the portraits, for instance, being from photographs of old and somewhat defaced canvases, which could not have been reengraved without impairing their character, and many of the minor illustrations from ancient books printed when wood engraving was a rude art.

In my treatment of opponents I hope that I have not held them in too light esteem, fully realizing that what we often believe to be principles and valorously battle for, not infrequently turn out to be but opinions, and that beyond them may be a wide field of
debatable ground.

What I have written, however, is the result of conviction founded upon judgment. If this is deficient it should be apparent to the reader.

JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER.
PORTLAND, MAINE, 1915.