SCHOLARLY CHALLENGE – The Argosy of “Andrew” in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

To download a copy of this academic paper in pdf format, please click here: SCHOLARLY CHALLENGE – The Argosy of Andrew in The Merchant of Venice – SCHOLARLY CHALLENGE – The Argosy of “Andrew” in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ As we embark on a New Year, I have decided to do something different. As students and… Read more »

Understanding the Gender Complexities of Shakespeare

To download a copy of this academic paper in pdf format, please click here: PAPER – Understanding the Gender Complexities of Shakespeare Understanding the Gender Complexities of Shakespeare Dr Peter D Matthews Introduction The dramatists of Shakespeare are often characterized as being feminists because of the frankness of Cordelia in King Lear, the shrewdness of Portia in… Read more »

New Research into the Bassano Instruments

To download a copy of this academic paper in pdf format, please click here: PAPER – New Research into the Bassano Instruments New Research into the Bassano Instruments Dr Peter D Matthews Bassano violin, circa 17th century. Copyright 2018 University of Edinburgh. Various researchers have written about the life, music, and some have detailed a few… Read more »

Were the Bassanos Blackamoors, Black Jews, or tanned Italian-Spaniards?

To download a pdf copy of this paper, please click here: PAPER V2 – Were the Bassanos Blackamoors, Black Jews, or tanned Italian-Spaniards   Introduction The reason for writing this paper was to prove or repudiate claims that Emilia Bassano and other Bassano descendants were “black”, at the request of Katrina Langford (alias Katrina Brown) who… Read more »

Breakfast at Restaurant Terrazza Danieli (Part 2)

There is something mystical about waking up in Venice overlooking the Grand Canal…centuries of secrets hidden away in the crusted walls of this wonderful timeless city are begging to be discovered. Built long before Roman occupation, Venice is the ultimate floating city, constructed upon timber poles somehow rammed into the seabed centuries before pile drivers… Read more »

Horror in Paradise (Part 1)

Most of my friends and followers know of my love of Italy, particularly Venice and the wondrous painted city of Bassano del Grappa to the north. Until now, only my close friends and family know I have struggled with major health issues over the past few years. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two and… Read more »

The Bassanos: Jewish Guardians of the Ancient Arts

To download a copy of this academic paper in pdf format, please click here: PAPER v2 – The Bassanos – Jewish Guardians of the Ancient Arts   The Bassanos Jewish Guardians of the Ancient Arts Dr Peter D Matthews   For centuries scholars have grappled with the fact that many of the Shakespearean characters are members… Read more »

Earliest Version of ‘As You Like It’ may have been Venetian

  As You Like It is was what we call a ‘pastoral comedy’, which means it involves traipsing around the countryside doing As You Like.  The title is an English expression of a Hebrew saying in relation to time and freedom in seizing the moment. The Hebrew word זְמָן (zeman) means ‘appointed time’ from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 as follows:… Read more »

Release of Volume 1 – ‘Genesis of the Shakespearean Works’

  The time has finally come! Volume 1 of ‘Genesis of the Shakespearean Works’ was officially released to printers today. Over the coming weeks it will be distributed to bookshops around the world. This massive academic work has taken me 14 fourteen years research. What a mammoth undertaking – I never thought I had it… Read more »

The Tinworths of Ballarat: A True Rags to Riches Story

To download a copy of this research paper in pdf format, please click here: The Tinworths – A True Rags to Riches Story The Tinworths of Ballarat A True Rags to Riches Story Prepared for BBC Television Program “Who do You Think You Are?” by Dr Peter D Matthews If democracy means opposition to a tyrannical press,… Read more »

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Latest

  • Early evidence of a female author in the First Folio

    To download a copy of this academic paper in pdf format, please click here: PAPER – Early evidence of a female author in the First Folio   In the First Folio, there is a dedication to William Shakespeare by Ben Jonson. Within Jonson’s dedication, we find he attempted to defend Shakespeare against claims that a woman… Read more »

  • Bassano Legal Case in Romeo and Juliet

    To download a copy of this academic paper in pdf format, please click here: PAPER – Bassano Legal Case in Romeo and Juliet   In examining the 1597 First Quarto of Romeo and Juliet, we find it did not mention the name William Shakespeare – it was anonymous. This is not surprising, especially considering a number of the… Read more »

  • Isn’t Venice breathtaking this time of year?

    I am fascinated by Venice. I’m not sure whether it is the history or the crumbing facades, the teal canals, or maybe it is the myriad of mysterious medieval confraternities. Then again, it might be the people? In fact, everything about Venice intrigues me. I visited Venice in 2005, but this short stint merely left… Read more »

  • Finally caved in to pressure!

      I finally caved in to pressure and decided to write a blog. When I have time, I will publish portions of my research. I hope you enjoy reading it.