Oxfordian

An Oxfordian is someone who believes in the Oxfordian Theory of Shakespeare Authorship - ie.: that the plays traditionally attributed to Shakespeare of Stratford - the greatest plays in the English language -- were actually written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, who lived between 1550 and 1604. Mainstream Shakespeare scholars discount the Oxfordian theory, noting that, according to their own chronology, several of Shakespeare's works postdate the death of this Earl. Oxfordians, however, maintain that none of Shakespeare's works have been proven to have been written after 1604. The debate continues into the 21st century.