Leo T. reviewed The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folger's Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare's First Folio on + 1775 more book reviews
Although I read it all, I myself was more interested in the publication (demand for WS and the investment in paper, etc. needed to actually print the Folio) than in Mr. Folger's interest in the First Folio.
Chapter One, pp. 1-17. Stratford was a market town. Plays were popular during the reign of Elizabeth I. WS came to London and started at the bottom of the âindustry.'
Chapter Two, pp. 18-34. As in vaudeville, plays were not published in order to curtail imitators. The authors of the First Folio had unknown sources but had to get permissions from actors' companies. It is obvious that WS did write the plays and was held in high regard.
Chapter Three, pp. 35-56. The presses of printing firms were watched lest seditious matter be circulated. The mechanics of printing the First Folio is discussedâit took nearly two years to print and required a large investment. Given their estimate of the capital available and the expected demand, 750 copies were printed. It was printed from the center outward and no sheets of paper were wasted. Edits were done as they printed, so there are many states. The copper engraved frontispiece was also used in the 3rd, and 4th folios.
Chapter Four, pp. 57-75. The first Folio sold out circa 1632. Puritans were against plays but a new interest in WS arose during the reign of Charles II. The Third Folio of 1663 is rare because of the Great Fire of 1666. David Garrick often performed WS, the WS texts were cleaned up, and WS was popular in America.
Chapter One, pp. 1-17. Stratford was a market town. Plays were popular during the reign of Elizabeth I. WS came to London and started at the bottom of the âindustry.'
Chapter Two, pp. 18-34. As in vaudeville, plays were not published in order to curtail imitators. The authors of the First Folio had unknown sources but had to get permissions from actors' companies. It is obvious that WS did write the plays and was held in high regard.
Chapter Three, pp. 35-56. The presses of printing firms were watched lest seditious matter be circulated. The mechanics of printing the First Folio is discussedâit took nearly two years to print and required a large investment. Given their estimate of the capital available and the expected demand, 750 copies were printed. It was printed from the center outward and no sheets of paper were wasted. Edits were done as they printed, so there are many states. The copper engraved frontispiece was also used in the 3rd, and 4th folios.
Chapter Four, pp. 57-75. The first Folio sold out circa 1632. Puritans were against plays but a new interest in WS arose during the reign of Charles II. The Third Folio of 1663 is rare because of the Great Fire of 1666. David Garrick often performed WS, the WS texts were cleaned up, and WS was popular in America.
