332:, a rival alternative theory of Shakespeare authorship. Dowden's "spirit guide" spoke to the spirit of Ernest who contacted de Vere, Shakespeare and Bacon. De Vere stated that he collaborated with other writers to create the plays and confirmed that the Ashbourne portrait depicted him. Dowden's biographer reveals that Allen's was the final and true revelation on the topic, since from his teenage years Allen had been destined to be the bearer of the ultimate truth:
340:. It was his first introduction to Shakespeare, and the thrill which he received from it set his mind upon a lifetime study of the plays. Unknown to Allen at this time, a plan had been worked out by spirit people interested in his earthly life that he should be the means of finally unravelling the great mystery of Shakespeare's origin and work."
288:, were "advancing certain views respecting Oxford and Queen Eliz. which appear to me extravagant & improbable, in no way strengthen Oxford's Shakespeare claims, and are likely to bring the whole cause into ridicule." This was the suggestion that the queen had a son by Oxford, which first appears in an appendix to
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In 1936 Allen undertook a three months' lecture tour of Canada and the USA. In the following year he lost the use of his right eye after an operation, while also having to cope with serious financial problems. In 1939 his twin brother Ernest, to whom he was very close, died. This, and the outbreak of
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depicted de Vere in the guise of
Shakespeare, asserting that the features of the man in the portrait corresponded to those of de Vere and that the costume implied a date earlier than 1611, the one signed to the image. He believed that the portrait dated from 1597, but had later been retouched as part
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commented on political and cultural events of the day. He later followed it up with a book on
Shakespeare's and Chapman's references to events in recent French history. In 1929, he published
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is a reference to the queen's pregnancy, which could easily be concealed in those days by the "fashion of dress of great ladies". A later book claimed that the child was an actor named
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Living in
Croydon, by the early 20th century Allen was established as a prolific author and journalist. In his youth he became a member of the Christian adventist sect the
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When Percy Allen was a boy of fifteen or sixteen he had to pass one of the
University Extension examinations which necessitated his reading
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Allen argued that George
Chapman was a bitter enemy of Oxford and that many of his writings were attacks on Oxford/Shakespeare. He is the "
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Allen's a father was a lawyer, but his family also had literary and theatrical connections. He was the grandson of
Victorian actress
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After this Allen continued to write and lecture. He was described as a pleasant and entertaining speaker by the
Oxfordian journal
238:, in which he attempted to create a biography of de Vere matched to the publication of the poems and plays. Allen argued that the
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is in Act II scene I in which Speed refers to Sylvia having a "passing deformity", interpreted by Allen to mean pregnancy.
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in 1945. The controversy caused by the events forced Allen to stand down as president of the
Oxfordian organisation the
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wrote the plays published under
Shakespeare's name. He soon became a strong advocate of the theory. In 1930 he wrote
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seeking to contact his brother and find support for his beliefs. Dowden had previously provided support to the
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148:(1923) was a similar work illustrated by P. Dubuisson. He also wrote on French poetry and history, publishing
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Soon, however, Allen's views began to diverge from Looney's. Looney wrote that Allen and another follower,
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105:(1875–1959) was an English journalist, writer and lecturer most notable for his advocacy of the
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in response, an attack on
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Allen's theory was not well received by many Oxfordians. Among those who rejected it was
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453:, Palmer, 1932, pp.319–28. Allen states that the identification was suggested to him by
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Shortly after beginning to work on Shakespeare, he became converted to the theories of
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403:, London: Rider Company, 1951, pp.147–50. For a more recent discussion of Dowden see
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The Stage Life of Mrs Stirling: With Some Sketches of the Nineteenth Century Theatre
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David L. Rinear, "To Submit and Patiently to Wait" – the Career of Mrs Stirling,
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published by the Paris-Lyon Mediterranean Railway. He was in France during the
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491:, UK edition: Faber and Faber (US edition: Simon & Schuster), pp.196–210.
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Far Horizon: A Biography of Hester Dowden: Medium and Psychic Investigator
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as its drama critic. In 1922 he wrote a biography of his grandmother,
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Burgundy: the Splendid Duchy – Stories and Sketches in South Burgundy
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Christopher Paul, "A new letter by J. T. Looney brought to light",
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The Case for Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford as Shakespeare
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After the war he returned to London, and was employed by the
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In 1928 he turned his attention to Shakespeare, publishing
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The Life Story of Edward De Vere as "William Shakespeare"
424:, Volume 7, Part 2, Jones & Bartlett Learning, p.476.
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The Life Story of Edward de Vere as "William Shakespeare"
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The life Story of Edward de Vere as "William Shakespeare"
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The Life Story of Edward de Vere as William Shakespeare
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left, the president's post remained empty for a year.
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of "an elaborate plot". Allen also believed that the
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Shakespeare and Elizabeth: the meeting of two myths
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521:, Princeton University Press, 2009, pp.157–60
204:Shakespeare and Chapman as Topical Dramatists
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