With a slightly creaky title (though one not remotely as appalling as "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter"), it was presented to the world as a previously-unknown work by a celebrated author, drawn from its purported creator's national history. After the rights were purchased by a well-known playwright and politician, it had only public airing, where the response was not favorable. What is it, and who wrote it?

edmund80

My first guess was the apocryphal Shakespeare work "Sir John Oldcastle" (a slightly creaky title), but none of the other clues fit. My final answer is "Vortigern and Rowena" supposedly by The Bard himself but actually by the forger WH Ireland, rights to which play was bought by playwright and statesman Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was performed only once on April 2, 1796 to general public derision http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortigern_and_Rowena Aug 06 08, 2:40 PM

Baloo55th

In truth 'tis somewhat dire, but shouldst wish to peruse, or, heaven forefend, perform the play, herewith is the whole of the matter http://www.vortigernstudies.org.uk/artlit/vortigern.htm Aug 06 08, 3:00 PM

lanfranco

Lovely, edmund, "Vortigern and Rowena" it is! Somehow, that title just doesn't have much of a ring to it. Speaking of creakiness, if you'll just give me a minute to haul open the rather stiff door of my vault and let the moths fly out, I'll check my supply of silver maces... Ah, yes, here's a large one, and it's all yours. Aug 06 08, 3:03 PM

lanfranco

Well, my dear Baloo, I sort of like this line: (Act IV, scene vi, Vortigern setting eyes on Rowena): "Ye heavenly powers! What lovely maid is this, Whose form might raise the blush in Dian's cheek?" Evidently, Heaven didn't forfend quite strongly enough against the writing in the first place. Aug 06 08, 6:06 PM