A controversial new book claims William Shakespeare was not the true author of his plays, arguing instead that they were written by Emilia Bassano, a Tudor court poet.

Feminist historian Irene Coslet contends Bassano, whom she describes as a Jewish woman of Moorish descent, used “Shakespeare” as a pen name because Elizabethan society favored a white male genius.

She argues Bassano’s education, cultural background, and close ties to the theatre world better explain the depth of the works than Shakespeare’s modest upbringing.

Mainstream scholars strongly reject the theory, noting there was no dispute of Shakespeare’s authorship during his lifetime and that contemporaries like Ben Jonson praised him openly, the Standard has reported.

While similar claims have surfaced before, academic consensus continues to affirm Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon as the genuine author.