SOURCE: Nolan, Michael. “William Rowley and the Authorship of The Thracian Wonder.” Notes and Queries 44, no. 4 (December 1997): 519-23.

In the following essay, Nolan credits Rowley with the authorship of The Thracian Wonder on the basis of the elements this play has in common with Rowley's known works.

Though The Thracian Wonder (c. 1610; published 1661) has a title-page attribution to John Webster and William Rowley, the play is now generally categorized as anonymous. The primary critical objection is to Webster and denial of his authorship is the central issue of commentary on Wonder. Conversely, there is silence about Rowley's possible contribution, perhaps because of ignorance of or uninterest in Rowley's work, or perhaps because confirmation of Rowley's hand might seemingly support Webster's. Whatever the cause, discussion of Rowley's authorship is limited.¹

Certainly the title-page attribution is incorrect. Wonder is neither Webster's in style nor substance. Yet there is nothing in...