Not everyone believes William Shakespeare wrote all — or any — of the famous plays attributed to him. Some believe instead that Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, was the true author. Though nearly all his works have been lost to time, de Vere was considered by many to be one of the best poets of the Elizabethan era. This reputation helped cement the fringe theory that he wrote the work attributed to Shakespeare. However, a majority of Shakespearean scholars have rejected any alternative authorship theories.