Shakespeare''s Syndicate - The First Folio, Its Publishers, and the Early Modern Book Trade

In 1623 a team of stationers published what has become the most famous volume in English literary history: William Shakespeare's First Folio. Drawing on a host of fresh primary evidence from a wide range of sources, Shakespeare's Syndicate illuminates our understanding of how this landmark volume was made and what it has meant to scholars since.

List of contents

• List of Figures


• List of Tables


• List of Abbreviations


• Note on Transcription and Citation Conventions


• Introduction


• Part 1: 'Printed by Isaac Jaggard, and Ed. Blount. 1623.'


• 1: 'Master William Shakesperes workes': Edward Blount at the Black Bear


• 2: 'Prudentia': The Jaggard Publishing House


• Part 2: 'J. Smithweeke, and W. Aspley, 1623.'


• 3: A Minor Shakespearean: William Aspley at the Parrot


• 4: 'Under the Diall': John Smethwick at St Dunstan's Churchyard


• Epilogue


• Appendix 1: The letters of Edward Blount


• Appendix 2: The publications of William and Isaac Jaggard


• Appendix 3: The wholesale locations of Shakespeare's books, 1593-1640


• Bibliography


• Index

About the author

Ben Higgins read English at the University of Exeter before going to the University of Oxford for postgraduate work. He has held lectureships at Wadham College, Lincoln College, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He is currently Career Development Fellow in English Literature at Lady Margaret Hall.

Summary

In 1623 a team of stationers published what has become the most famous volume in English literary history: William Shakespeare's First Folio. Drawing on a host of fresh primary evidence from a wide range of sources, Shakespeare's Syndicate illuminates our understanding of how this landmark volume was made and what it has meant to scholars since.

Additional text

Through small moments in the Folio, Higgins bends time away from the history and death of Shakespeare, to the lives and labor of the stationers, who ushered the completed books to buyers and readers who could grapple with Shakespeare's membership in the growing pantheon of English writers that Jonson identifies [...] By reorienting the Folio in time, Higgins asks new sets of questions of it, seeking to articulate the roles-both large and small-of the stationers who ensured that the volume reached readers' bookshelves.

Product details

• Authors: Ben Higgins, Ben (Career Development Fellow in English Higgins, Ben (Departmental Lecturer in English Lit Higgins, Ben (Departmental Lecturer in English Literature Higgins, Higgins Ben
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.03.2022
• EAN: 9780192848840
• ISBN: 978-0-19-284884-0
• No. of pages: 310
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama > Drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, DRAMA / Shakespeare, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Classic and pre-20th century plays, Shakespeare Plays, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean