Works of William Shakespeare (Shakespeare - "Amazing Spear") indicate that this man had a giant, with nothing comparable to the volume of active vocabulary - from 20 to 25 thousand words, while the most educated and gifted literary contemporaries of the type of philosopher Francis bacon is around 9-10 thousand words. Modern English with a higher education consume no more than 4 thousand words. Shakespeare, according to the Oxford English dictionary, entered the English language around 3200 new words - more than his literary contemporaries bacon, Jonson and Chapman together.

The author of the knew the French language (in "Henry V" a scene written in French), Italian, Latin, was well versed in Greek, well-oriented in the history of England, in ancient history and so on. The plot of "Hamlet" is taken from the book of the Frenchman Belfort, translated into English one hundred years later. The plots of "Othello" and "the merchant of Venice" is borrowed from Italian collections, also appeared in English only in the XVIII century. The plot of "Two noblemen of Verona" taken from the Spanish pastoral novel, until the pieces never published in English.

It is established that Shakespeare knew the works of Montaigne, Ronsard, Ariosto, Boccaccio, he was well known Greco-Roman mythology, literature, history, he used the writings of Homer, Plautus, Ovid, Seneca, Plutarch, and not only in translations but also in the originals. Research scientists established a solid learning of the author's plays in English history, law, rhetoric, music, botany (experts have counted 63 the names of herbs, trees and flowers in his works), medicine, military and even naval matters (the proof of the last commands given by the boatswain in "the Tempest"). He was well known in Northern Italy, Padua, Venice... in Short, in the works of Shakespeare are traces of extremely knowledgeable person, highly educated, speak the languages, knowing other country, the life of the most senior circles of the then English society, including monarchs, familiar with etiquette, titles, pedigrees, language of the highborn nobility.

What documented knowledge about who is considered the author of the plays - Shakespeare from Stratford? First, about it knew nothing. In his life there is no trace of evidence that someone took him for a writer. In 50-100 years after his death, began to look for these traces, documents. And this is what I know: his whole family - father, mother, wife, and - Oh, horror! - children were illiterate. And from him there is not one scrap of paper written in his hand.

Not found any books from his library (while many others of his contemporaries and still continue to find books with signatures). From every writer of that time found any manuscript or letter, or someone's notes about it. Here are no letters or notes contemporary with a mention like: "I've seen Shakespeare, the actor, the playwright." A writer noone in England ever seen!

But there are documents showing that Shakespeare from Stratford engaged in petty usury, doggedly pursued their neighbors - the blacksmith, the chemist - for debts in the courts. He was an active acquirer. There is no evidence that he received at least primary education. The legend says that he had learned little in an urban elementary school (like our parish).

The legend says: Shakespeare father, a glove maker, was struggling early and took him out of school, did an apprenticeship. All this was then a common occurrence, but where did he attain the Supreme, incomparable education, erudition, knowledge of languages etc.?

Shakespeare was a member of the acting troupe. What role I played, if at all, is unknown. There is a tradition that he played the role of the shadow of Hamlet's father. Perhaps participated in the mass scenes.

He was a shareholder of the theatre, that is, actor - co-owner - is well documented. I believe that he gave to their plays. It was like his contribution to the business. A fine suggestion, but it is not confirmed by any documents. There is no documentary evidence that someone of the actors of the troupe "Globe" considered Shakespeare during the life of the writer, the playwright.

Contact William Shakespeare by a notary public. Found it through a hundred years. The person who found it, was in despair. He wrote to his friend that in his will there is no one word that could be associated with Shakespeare - the Great Bard. They painted spoons, forks, money for generations to come, interest, pensions. Everything - down to dishes and beds, about which he wrote so much. And no word about the books, although many books were expensive.

Where are his manuscripts? The name Shakespeare was already known publishers for his plays, sonnets raced. How are Shakespeare's manuscripts, is unknown. His contemporaries - writers, poets, playwrights - earn. Besides him! He, who for two pounds chased through the courts for the poor debtor and probably jailed neighbor blacksmith (the proletariat, in our opinion), made no reference to any manuscript. But for a play it was possible to get at then the entrepreneur six pounds!

When he died Shakespeare from Stratford, nobody in England had not uttered a sound. The only response to the death of a genius - the entry in the Stratford parish register: "April 25, 1616 buried will Shakespeare, Gent.".

In those days it was decided: when the poet dies, maybe not even very well-known colleagues wrote upon his death, the elegies, was published as a commemorative collections. On Johnson's death - a book of elegies. Died Beaumont, Texas - a solemn funeral, Elegy. Dies Drayton (who we know Michael Drayton?) the students form a procession through the streets of the city (by the way, Drayton was of humble origin and the poor)... Whole collections were mourning the death of Sidney, Spenser, Donna. And here - neither words nor sound.

To summarize: the Shakespearean question arose because of the unprecedented global culture of contradictions between what is known about the author from his works, and those indisputable facts that speak about the life and works of William Shakespeare from Stratford.