Bacon, Shakespeare, and the Rosicrucians | W. F. C. Wigston

"Bacon, Shakespeare, and the Rosicrucians" by W. F. C. Wigston, first published in 1888, explores the intriguing theory that Sir Francis Bacon, not William Shakespeare, was the true author of the works attributed to the Bard. Wigston argues that Shakespeare, a man from Stratford with limited formal education, lacked the depth of knowledge and literary sophistication evident in the plays and sonnets. In contrast, Bacon, a philosopher, scientist, and statesman, possessed the intellectual capacity and esoteric insight reflected in these writings. The book further posits that Bacon was deeply connected to the Rosicrucians, a secretive mystical order, and that their philosophical and symbolic influences permeate the Shakespearean canon.

Wigston examines specific plays like "The Tempest" and "Hamlet," as well as the Sonnets, to highlight parallels with Rosicrucian themes, Masonic symbolism, and Bacon’s own ideas, such as those in his "New Atlantis." He suggests that Shakespeare served as a "mask" for Bacon, concealing his authorship due to social or political constraints. Through historical analysis and literary interpretation, Wigston presents a case for Bacon as a hidden genius behind one of literature’s greatest mysteries, offering a provocative perspective on the intersection of Renaissance literature, mysticism, and secret societies.

This facsimile edition of Bacon, Shakespeare, and the Rosicrucians (1888) by William Francis C. Wigston. This is black-and-white reprint of the 1888 edition has been checked manually, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. 

About the Author

William Francis C. Wigston (often styled W. F. C. Wigston) was a late 19th-century English author and scholar known for his contributions to the study of Renaissance literature, philosophy, and esoteric traditions. Active during the Victorian era, Wigston developed a particular fascination with the authorship debate surrounding William Shakespeare, proposing that Sir Francis Bacon was the true mind behind the Shakespearean works. His most notable book, "Bacon, Shakespeare, and the Rosicrucians" (1888), reflects his deep interest in linking Bacon’s intellectual pursuits with the mystical and philosophical currents of the Rosicrucians, a secretive order tied to Renaissance humanism and occult thought. Wigston’s other works, such as "Francis Bacon, Poet, Prophet, Philosopher, Versus Phantom Captain Shakespeare, the Rosicrucian Mask" (1891), further explore these themes, blending literary analysis with speculative historical connections.