In 'Contested Will,' James Shapiro explores the confounding debate over Shakespearean authorship, delving deep into history to uncover why, over two centuries past Shakespeare's death, the legitimacy of his works' authorship surfaced. Challenging the conspiracy theories, Shapiro takes readers through a labyrinth of forged documents, trials, and false identities while examining the roles played by figures like Freud, Twain, and Keller in perpetuating these doubts. With scholarly rigor and engaging prose, Shapiro not only addresses the veracity of the Stratford man's claim to his plays but also investigates the broader implications concerning the intersection of life and art. Do Shakespeare's plays comprise a veiled autobiography? Is there a ciphered revelation of the true author within these iconic texts? Shapiro's inquiry is both a defense of historical truth and a contemplation on the nature of literary creativity.