Albert Harris Tolman's dissertation examines the role of William Shakespeare in the creation of The Taming of the Shrew. He argues that in the composition of the play, Shakespeare was likely drawing on older Italian works already in circulation, and that his primary contribution was in adapting this earlier material into a unique English work. This insightful dissertation sheds new light on one of the most iconic Shakespearean comedies. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.