John Denham Parsons facts for kids

John Denham Parsons (born 1861, died September 14, 1936) was an English writer. He was known for his ideas about who really wrote William Shakespeare's plays.

About John Denham Parsons

John Denham Parsons was a writer who lived in England. He spent many years studying the works of William Shakespeare. He was especially interested in who truly wrote these famous plays.

The Shakespeare Mystery

Parsons believed in something called the Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship. This theory suggests that William Shakespeare, the famous playwright, did not actually write all the plays and poems credited to him. Instead, people who believe this theory think that someone else, like Francis Bacon, was the real author. Parsons wrote many articles and books about this idea between 1918 and 1935. He even debated with important experts and institutions like the British Museum about it.

Other Writings and Interests

Besides his work on Shakespeare, Parsons wrote about other interesting topics. In 1896, he published a book called The Non-Christian Cross. In this book, he explored the history of the Christian cross symbol. He argued that its origins might be older than Christianity itself.

Parsons was also a member of the Society for Psychical Research. This group studies unusual mental abilities and experiences. In 1906, he wrote a very long book called The Nature and Purpose of the Universe. This book covered his thoughts on philosophy and psychical research.

Selected Publications

John Denham Parsons wrote several books and articles during his life. Here are a few of his notable works:

• Our Sun-God: Or Christianity Before Christ, 1895
• The Non-Christian Cross: An Enquiry into the Origin and History of the Symbol Eventually Adopted as That of Our Religion, 1896
• The Nature and Purpose of the Universe, 1906
• Boycotted Shakespeare Facts: Being a Preliminary Report Upon the Admissible, 1920