Fascinating Thread. Re. 'the boy from Stratford', quite often genius comes out of nowhere. For example Napoleon Bonaparte 1769 - 1821 from Corsica and self taught astronomer Sir Patrick Moore 1923 - 2012 CBE, Hon. FRS and FAS.

William Shakespeare (means wordsmith!). Whatever the arguments as to his authorship, he was commanded into the Court of King James I. That speaks volumes, or should I say folios, chuckle.