Daugherty (emeritus literature and linguistics, Evergreen State College and U. of Virginia) argues that the Ganymede of poet Barnfield's (1574-1627) The Affectionate Shepheard Concerning the Complaint of Ganymede was none other than William Stanley, Earl of Derby (d. 1642). He also offers evidence that Barnfield's published poems from 1594, including over 20 homoerotic love sonnets, were in dialogue with some of Shakespeare's (1564-1616) own homoerotic sonnets to his Fair Youth; that Barnfield was in fact the Rival Poet of Shakespeare's sonnets; and that Stanley was the beloved male pastoral addressee of both poets. His topics include William Stanley as the honored man promised future praise; the dialogue begins with Barnfield's Greenes Funeralls; Shakespeare's sonnet 86, Barnfield's sonnet V, and Barnfield's apparent victory; tabulation and analysis, Shakespeare's Dark Lady sonnets as one of the leftover problems, and counter-arguments. Annotation 2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
