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Try this link for the Australian version of the story. _http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18245417-401,00.html?from=rss_ (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18245417-401,00.html?from=rss) The book that pushes the deathmask theory is about to be distributed in the US by International Publishers Marketing. Here's some of their publicity The Life and Times of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare’s literary work has fascinated and entertained people throughout the world for centuries. His life, however, has always been shrouded in mystery. Now an eminent Shakespearean scholar presents a complete picture of his life and times and reveals the man himself. In this extraordinary study, Professor Hildegard Hammerschmidt-Hummel sets the great English playwright firmly in his time and reveals his deep involvement in the dramatic political events of the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. After ascending the throne, Queen Elizabeth I made Anglicanism, a version of the Protestant confession, the official State religion and announced her aim to abolish Catholicism within her lifetime. Brutal persecution of priests and believers in the Old Religion followed and they were forced to go underground or into exile. This background of religious ferment meant that, due to their potentially explosive content, nearly half of Shakespeare’s works could not be published during his lifetime, only becoming public seven years after his death. Hammerschmidt- Hummel demonstrates how this political backdrop is the key to understanding so many of the secrets and puzzles of Shakespeare’s life and work. Who were Shakespeare’s friends and enemies? What did he do during his ‘lost years’? How did he manage to become the most influential writer in England in such a short time? What did his contemporaries think and write about him? Why did he suddenly start writing tragedies? Is Hamlet, the tragedy of a great Prince in a rotten State, a reflection of the dramatic and tragic events at the end of the Elizabethan age? And why did Shakespeare fail to write one word of homage to the Queen during her 45-year reign? Professor Hildegard Hammerschmidt-Hummel answers these and other key questions in this comprehensive and groundbreaking biography of William Shakespeare. PROFESSOR HILDEGARD HAMMERSCHMIDT-HUMMEL lectures in English Literature and Cultural studies at the University of Mainz, Germany. For three years she was head of the Department for Culture at the Consulate-General of Germany in Toronto. Her major publications include the study Das Geheimnis um Shakespeares ‘Dark Lady’ (The Secret of Shakespeare’s ‘Dark Lady: Uncovering a Mystery), 1999, in which she identifies the mistress of Shakespeare’s sonnets; What did Shakespeare Look Like? Authentic Portraits and the Death Mask: Methods and Results of the Tests of Authenticity), 2000; Die verborgene Existenz des William Shakespeare. Dichter und Rebell im katholischen Untergrund (The Secret Life of William Shakespeare: Poet and Rebel in the Catholic Underground), 2001, which resolves the question of Shakespeare’s religion; the three-volume work that appeared in 2003, Die Shakespeare-Illustration (1594–2000). Bildkünstlerische Darstellungen zu den Dramen William Shakespeares (Shakespearian Illustrations [1594–2000]. The Work of Artists on Shakespeare’s Plays), containing more than 3000 illustrations; William Shakespeare. Die authentischen Bildnisse (William Shakespeare. The Authentic Portraits), 2004; and the earlier German version of her Shakespeare biography, William Shakespeare. Seine Zeit – Sein Leben – Sein Werk (2003), which heavily draws on new historical and pictorial sources she has brought to light during a lifetime of Shakespearean study. Jacket image: A silhouette of the true image of Shakespeare, a bust scientifically authenticated by Professor Hildegard Hammerschmidt-Hummel as being sculpted during his lifetime. The full image will be revealed on the front cover of this book on publication in March 2006. Bill Lloyd ----------------------------------- In a message dated 2/23/2006 9:49:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Hello Abigail, It must not be very genuine because I can't even get it; I get a 404 message when I click on the link. Perhaps it's been removed. Can you still get it? Bill Ingram -----Original Message----- To: [log in to unmask] Subject: A shakespeare story I'm not sure how genuine this is, but it looks interesting.... <http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18245417-2,00.htm> --