Synopses & Reviews
This catalogue of the Shakespeare First Folio (1623) is the result of two decades of research during which 232 surviving copies of this immeasurably important book were located - a remarkable 72 more than were recorded in the previous census over a century ago - and examined in situ, creating an essential reference work.
Why This Book?
- An invaluable tool for Shakespeare scholars - entries for each copy include details of its provenance (including fascinating stories about previous owners and incidents) and of the collation, press variants, conservation history and binding
- A hugely significant resource for researchers into the history of the book, as well as auction houses, book collectors, curators and specialist book dealers
- Features striking illustrations of interesting examples of First Folios in a color plate section
- Strongly supports the RSC editions which are based on the First Folio
Synopsis
Winner of the playshakespeare Falstaff Award for Best Book, Publication, or Recording. This catalogue of the Shakespeare First Folio (1623) is the result of two decades of research during which 232 surviving copies of this immeasurably important book were located - a remarkable 72 more than were recorded in the previous census over a century ago - and examined in situ, creating an essential reference work.
About the Author
ERIC RASMUSSEN is co-editor with Jonathan Bate of the RSC Shakespeare series and is Professor of English at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA. He has developed an international reputation as a Shakespeare scholar and editor, and is involved in the pioneering Internet Shakespeare Editions project. His publications include the Revels edition of
Doctor Faustus, the World's Classics edition of Christopher Marlowe's plays (both co-edited with David Bevington), the Arden 3 edition of
King Henry VI Part 3 (co-edited with John D. Cox), the
English Renaissance Drama: A Norton Anthology (co-edited with David Bevington, Lars Engle and Katharine Eisaman Maus)
and an edition of
Everyman and Mankind (co-edited with Douglas Bruster) for the Arden Early Modern Drama series. He writes the annual review of 'Editions and Textual Studies' for
Shakespeare Survey.
DR ANTHONY JAMES WEST has an international reputation as a Shakespeare scholar, focused on the history of the First Folio since it left the press. He wrote the two Oxford studies: The Shakespeare First Folio, The History of the Book, Volume I: An Account of the First Folio Based on its Sales and Prices, 1623-2000; Volume II: A New Worldwide Census of First Folios. For thirty-five years he was an international management consultant, latterly as Vice President of Booz, Allen, and Hamilton, New York. At the University of London, he is Honorary Research Fellow, University College, London, UK; and Senior Research Fellow, Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, London, UK.