Were Cervantes and Shakespeare the same person?

As you already know, April 23rd is celebrated as Book Day because on this same day in the year 1616, the two great writers of the Spanish and English languages passed away: Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare.

In addition to the date of their death and their capital importance in the literature of their respective countries, both authors also have other things in common, such as mysteries and coincidences that have led some to think that perhaps – and get ready to be jaw-dropped – the genius from Alcalá de Henares and the bard of Stratford-upon-Avon were the same person.

It is known worldwide that the biography of Shakespeare is confusing and often contradictory; even the leading scholars of English literary history admit that there are more shadows in his life than lights, and the best example of this is the “lost years,” which go from 1584 to 1592 and in which Master William seems to have vanished from the face of the earth.

On the other hand, although the biography of Cervantes is better documented, there are also certain gaps such as his captivity in Algiers or the period in which he was a spy at the service of the Spanish crown, curiously in the 80s of the 16th century. It is also often said, half-jokingly, that the only moments in which he was not traveling were those in which he was in prison.

So, although delusional, let's say the theory could fit in some aspects. In addition, the idea that the best writer of his time was a double agent on dangerous missions for the great empires of his time has its appeal, we are not going to deny it.

But, in addition to the far-fetched coincidence of shadowy periods, there are curious “documentary proofs.” Let's be honest, these arguments seem very far-fetched to us, but they have their charm.

These proofs are mainly based on coincidences between the works and characters of both authors. For example Hamlet and Don Quixote are apparently mad and feel strange among their own people; also Sancho Panza and the jester Falstaff have points in common by being apparently simple-minded but being loaded with a peculiar wisdom.

Other arguments would be in the “mention” of works of one in those of the other. The case of one of the characters of “Don Quixote,” Cardenio, is cited, who ends up mad and living in Sierra Morena. This same character is the protagonist of one of the lost plays attributed to Shakespeare. But, couldn't William have read a work by Miguel at the time?

Within the same chapter of “mentions,” some have wanted to see the one of Shakespeare's best-known work in the very text about the nobleman of La Mancha. Thus, the fictitious author of the manuscript, Cid Hamet Benengeli, would be none other than Hamlet. To ensure the resemblance between the names is not taken as a coincidence, it is pointed out that “Benengeli” could mean “Son of England” (Ben Engeli).

There remains one that could be revealing and especially fun. The English translator of the first edition of “Don Quixote,” Thomas Shelton, states that he translated the work six years before being published in England; that is, in 1605, the same year in which it was published in Spain. If so, how could he have performed the arduous task of translating more than 500 pages in the same year and in a few days? Here we find that Cervantes-Shakespeare is also Shelton.

Perhaps we have lacked the passion to defend the evidence and that is why it seems so frivolous. We are going to be honest: for us one is Miguel and the other is William, they belonged to two different countries, they were from two different generations (Cervantes was born in 1547 and Shakespeare in 1564) and the themes they deal with have more differences than similarities. That said, both were equally brilliant.

By the way, if you have any ideas for a best-seller based on the premise that the authors were one and the same, please mention us in the acknowledgments... please.