Emilia Lanier theory of Shakespeare authorship

[11] David McInnis, professor in English and Theatre Studies, said that "The idea that she was known to all these people and that some elaborate conspiracy of virtually everyone of significance in London in the 17th century would 'cover-up' her supposed authorship of Shakespeare's plays is ridiculous.

"[12] A 2019 essay by reporter Elizabeth Winkler in The Atlantic argued that Shakespeare could have been a woman, and offered Lanier as a candidate, referencing Hudson.

[13] The Atlantic noted that the essay had increased interest in Lanier's life and contemporary women's literary contributions, as well as "generated dissent, most notably the argument that the piece did not pay sufficient attention to the scholarly consensus that any case for anyone other than Shakespeare is conjectural.

"[16] Academic Phyllis Rackin said that while she was absolutely certain that women were involved in writing many plays performed in Shakespeare's theater, she was not convinced that there was another "true author" of his works.

[18] Critic Noah Millman opined that "[Winkler's] motivation bears uncomfortably close comparison to that of Confederate sympathizer Mary Preston, who, impressed with the nobility of Othello's character, and unable to believe that a Moor could be so noble, 'corrected' the error she found in Shakespeare’s play, declaring, 'Othello was a white man!

[23] Novelist Gareth Roberts said that the idea is a great device for a novel, and that "If this was all the jolly wheeze that Picoult suggests, it was a hell of an elaborate and time-consuming one.