Perhaps, when Shakespeare wrote in Sonnet 85, “I think good
thoughts whilst other write good words,” he was giving us a
hint. After thorough analysis of the language, rhyme, and style
of the bard’s 1606-7 play All’s Well That Ends Well, two Oxford
professors say it’s likely Shakespeare wrote the work with a co-
author. They even think they know who it is: Thomas Middleton,
the 17th-century playwright behind The Changeling and Women
Beware Women. They imagine that Shakespeare, older and more
experienced than Middleton, was working with a young “rising
star” on his play, in the way that a master would work alongside
his apprentice. While it’s impossible to know the truth about
All’s Well That Ends Well’s authorship, researchers say, their
work has uncovered some pretty strong clues. Among them,
according to an article on the University website: - Unusually
narrative stage directions: Dr Emma Smith, of the Oxford
University English Faculty, said: “The narrative stage
directions – especially ‘Parolles and Lafew st