By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-19 08:26:27 | Updated at 2026-10-19 09:30:49
1 hour ago
For over four centuries, one play has stood apart from the official canon of William Shakespeare. It was published without an author’s name, and for decades, scholars have debated who wrote the text.
Now, a new computer-based study offers a surprising answer. *Edward III* was likely the work of two of Elizabethan England’s greatest playwrights: William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.
The two have traditionally been portrayed as literary rivals, but this analysis suggests they may have collaborated.
The Play Without an Author
*Edward III* was published anonymously in 1596. It tells the story of the English King Edward III, his war with France, and the military exploits of his son, the Black Prince.
The action takes place in the 14th century, during the era of the Hundred Years’ War.
The text weaves together political ambition, battle, love, and questions of honor and power—themes well-known from Shakespeare’s history plays.
As early as the last century, literary scholars noted similarities between certain parts of the work and the language used by the author of *Hamlet*, *Macbeth*, and *Romeo and Juliet*.
However, other scenes have a different tone.
This has led to the theory that the play was the work of more than one playwright. Computers Recognize Literary Style
The new study was led by Dr. Rory Loughnane and Professor Brett Greatley-Hirsch.
The researchers employed computational methods for language analysis, known as stylometry.
This technology allows for the comparison of characteristic features within the texts of different authors.
The analysis examines the frequency of specific words, set phrases, grammatical patterns, and other traits that serve as a kind of literary fingerprint.
The results indicate that 23 sections of *Edward III* were most likely written by Shakespeare.
Another nine are attributed to Christopher Marlowe.
According to the researchers, the evidence for Shakespeare’s primary contribution is extremely compelling.
Rivals or Collaborators?
Christopher Marlowe was one of the most brilliant playwrights of his time.
He authored *Doctor Faustus*, *Tamburlaine the Great*, and *The Jew of Malta*.
His characters are often obsessed with power, knowledge, and ambition, while his language exerted a profound influence on the development of English theater.
Marlowe was roughly the same age as Shakespeare, but his career came to an abrupt end.
In 1593, he died during a brawl in Deptford at the age of just 29.
The circumstances surrounding his death continue to spark debate and various interpretations. If the new hypothesis regarding *Edward III* is accepted, it would imply that the two playwrights collaborated in the early 1590s, prior to Marlowe’s death.
This suggests that their relationship was far more complex than the conventional narrative of literary rivalry.
Why were so many plays written by multiple authors?
In the Elizabethan theatre, collaborative writing was not uncommon.
Theatre troupes were in constant need of new material, and playwrights frequently worked under pressure and tight deadlines.
A play might be divided among several authors, who would compose individual scenes or revise existing material.
Their names did not always appear on the printed editions.
Today, this presents a challenge for researchers attempting to reconstruct the history of English theatre.
In the case of *Edward III*, computer analysis offers a new method for distinguishing between individual literary voices.
Will the list of Shakespeare’s plays change?
*Edward III* has long been a subject of discussion regarding works that may have been written—wholly or in part—by Shakespeare.
Some modern editions already include the play among his works, though the question of co-authorship remains a matter of debate.
The new research strengthens the argument that Shakespeare played a leading role in its creation. The results are expected to be published in the academic journal *Shakespeare Quarterly* and discussed in Rory Loughnane’s new book, *Shakespeare at Thirty*.
Illustrative photo: pexels-mikebird-189532
