The Bard and the Book
How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion
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- 11,99 €
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- 11,99 €
Beschreibung des Verlags
The unlikely true story of why we know the name William Shakespeare today, and the four-hundred-year-old book that made it possible.
Four hundred years ago, no one bothered to write down the exact words of stage plays. Characters’ lines were scribbled on small rolls of paper (as in, an actor’s role) and passed around, but no master script was saved for the future. The main reason we’ve heard of Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet, and Shakespeare himself is that a group of people made the excellent choice to preserve the plays after the Bard died. If they hadn’t created the book known as the First Folio, Shakespeare and his works would surely have been lost to history.
Part literary scavenger hunt (the search for every existing First Folio continues today), part book trivia treasure trove, and part love letter to Shakespeare, this behind-the-scenes, sharply funny true story is an ideal introduction to the Bard and his famous plays.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Via friendly and humorous text ("You have been misled to think that a dead poet with an earring from more than four hundred years ago has nothing to offer you"), Bausum (Ensnared in the Wolf's Lair) breaks down the lucky confluence of events that led to the preservation of plays by William Shakespeare (1564–1616). Dividing the work into five acts, Bausum first details Shakespeare's life ("William Shakespeare Becomes Brilliant, Then Dies") and the history of Elizabethan theater ("The Fleeting Nature of Theater Prepares to Vanquish Macbeth") before diving into the production of the First Folio, which those who had known Shakespeare created by drawing from their own recollections of his life and work. Further chapters chronicle the challenges of authenticating his writings, the printing and binding process, and the maintenance and current whereabouts of the original folio. Employing detailed scholarship, the author packs this slim volume with intriguing facts—such as how the rolls of paper on which Elizabethan actors wrote their lines were "the origin of what we call acting ROLES today"—emphasized through varying typefaces, strategic line breaks, and asides. Interspersed throughout are folk art–inspired illustrations by Sevilla (Little Red Hoodie) in vivid blues and oranges featuring figures in period dress. Bausum's passion for the topic is infectious, making for a joyous and engaging read for Shakespearean enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Extensive notes conclude. Ages 10–up.
