The Making of Shakespeare's First Folio

The Making of Shakespeare's First Folio traces the creation and publication of the 1623 collection that preserved many of Shakespeare's plays. Emma Smith reconstructs the journey from manuscript to printed book through examination of historical records and surviving copies. The book explores the technical processes of printing and assembling the Folio, including paper procurement, typesetting, proofreading, and binding. Smith analyzes the roles of the key figures involved: Shakespeare's fellow actors John Heminges and Henry Condell, the publishers Edward Blount and William Jaggard, and the compositors who set the type. The narrative follows the Folio's path through history, documenting how copies survived, were bought and sold, and eventually became prized cultural artifacts. The book includes details about early owners, annotations, and the varying conditions of surviving copies. This scholarly work reveals how the material circumstances of book production shaped one of literature's most significant publications. Through examination of the physical book, Smith illuminates broader questions about authorship, collaboration, and the transition from stage to page in early modern England.

Readers describe this as a detailed but accessible exploration of the First Folio's physical creation, printing process, and publication journey. Several reviewers noted it serves well as both an academic resource and an introduction for general readers interested in book history. Likes: - Clear explanations of 17th century printing methods - Focus on practical aspects rather than literary analysis - High quality images and illustrations - Inclusion of recent scholarship and discoveries Dislikes: - Some sections on paper types and binding methods felt too technical - Price point considered high for length ($45-65) - Limited discussion of the plays' content Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (9 ratings) One academic reviewer praised it as "filling an important gap between specialist studies and basic introductions." A general reader noted it "demystifies the creation process while maintaining the Folio's historical significance."

The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time by Keith Houston Through historical research and material analysis, this book examines how books evolved from scrolls to codices to mass-produced objects.

Shakespeare in Print: A History and Chronology of Shakespeare Publishing by Andrew Murphy This work traces the publication history of Shakespeare's works from the earliest quartos through modern editions.

The Coming of the Book: The Impact of Printing 1450-1800 by Lucien Febvre, Henri-Jean Martin This study explores how printing technology transformed European society and intellectual culture during the Renaissance and Early Modern period.

The Book in the Renaissance by Andrew Pettegree This book documents the first century of printing in Europe, including the business practices, distribution networks, and cultural impact of early printed books.

Shakespeare's First Folio: Four Centuries of an Iconic Book by Emma Smith This companion volume follows the individual copies of the First Folio through time, examining their ownership, use, and cultural significance.

🎭 The First Folio was published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death, and only about 750 copies were printed. Today, just 235 known copies survive. 📚 The book's proper title was "Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies," and without it, plays like "Macbeth," "Julius Caesar," and "The Tempest" might have been lost forever. ✒️ Emma Smith, the author, is a Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford University and has handled numerous First Folios firsthand during her research. 💷 In 2020, a complete First Folio sold at Christie's auction house for $9.98 million, setting a new record for the sale of a work of literature. 📖 The First Folio contained 36 plays, but oddly excluded "Pericles" and "The Two Noble Kinsmen," which are now considered part of Shakespeare's canon.