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Oxford Says Shakespeare Didn't Write His Plays Himself, So Your Life Is A Lie

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"Shakespeare, Shakespeare! Where art thou, Shakespeare?"

LOL. Turns out the big man didn't write some of his plays by himself: He had help.

Oxford University Press claims someone helped Shakespeare write three plays. This is why the publishing house is going to give a co-author named Christopher Marlowe credit in the new editions of "Henry VI."

Look, don't think we're pissing all over Shakespeare's parade or anything. We're not saying he's a phony: The man's a genius!

But the authorship argument spans many years.

REUTERS

The debate has been a controversial one because mainstream academics (as well as Shakespeare fanboys and fangirls) have historically shelved all conversations about their favorite playwright having help. It was just too much to believe.

Literary experts came to this conclusion after analyzing words and prose from "Henry VI" plays and comparing them with those from Marlowe's plays.

Gary Taylor, a professor at Florida State University – and the principal investigator of the latest study – said very wisely,

Shakespeare, like other geniuses, recognized the value of other people. What is Shakespeare famous for? Writing dialogue — interactions between two people. You would expect in his life there would be dialogue with other people.

When bae catches you cheating...

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So, who is this Christopher Marlowe fellow?

It's a good question. I'm glad I asked it.

Marlowe is a British poet and playwright from the 15th century. He was born in the same year Shakespeare was.

He is known for writing a number of plays with controversial themes.

Marlowe was rumored to be an atheist, which would have warranted drastic punishment at the time. Who even knows? It may have ultimately been the death of him.

His later years are pretty hazy, but it's believed he was arrested for writing blasphemy. Marlowe had his day in court, but was stabbed to death soon after.

He died in May 1593, at the age of 29.

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