“Ghostwriter” is based on the true story of my being hired by the University of Mississippi to ghostwrite “Fair Youth,” a novel, for a potential donor (Gertrude C. Ford, now deceased) for a planned $20M performing arts project. “Mrs. F” was convinced that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, was William Shakespeare and that she was the reincarnation of de Vere’s alleged mistress, Queen Elizabeth I. (Published by University Press of Mississippi) “A rich and amusing literary memoir with a conspiratorial twist.” (Kirkus)
“Fair Youth” explores the legend that a romance between Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, 20, Lord Great Chamberlain, and Queen Elizabeth I, 37, produced a son, Henry, born in secret, who grows up to be the “Fair Youth” of Shake-Speare’s sonnets. When Queen Elizabeth refuses to acknowledge Henry as her heir, he joins the Essex Rebellion and makes a vain attempt to seize the throne. He is sentenced to death but Elizabeth leaves orders for his sentence to be commuted.
CARL ROLLYSON’S REVIEW OF “GHOSTWRITER” AND “FAIR YOUTH” – NEW YORK SUN, JULY 12, 2024