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The First Folio is one of the most important books in the English language. In his 2006 television series Melvyn Bragg included it as one of the Twelve Books That Changed the World, and Harold Bloom estimates its importance equals, if not surpasses, the great English translations of the Bible by Tyndale and the King James version. The Folio owes its existence to two of Shakespeare’s fellow-actors, John Heminge and Henry Condell, who compiled it “onely to keepe the memory of so worthy a Friend, & Fellow alive, as was our SHAKESPEARE”.

At the time of its publication in 1623 only half of Shakespeare’s plays had appeared in print. Plays were popular entertainment, of little lasting value. But as Ben Jonson wrote, Shakespeare was “not of an age, but for all time”. The book ensured the survival of Shakespeare’s reputation as well as famous lines such as these from Macbeth:

Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more.

Since Shakespeare’s time almost all writers of importance have acknowledged Shakespeare’s genius.

The massive publication took several years to complete. Around 1000 copies were produced for sale at about £1, of which over 200 copies still survive. One of these is on permanent display in the Exhibition on the Life and Background to Shakespeare at his Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Category: People , Product , Paper

Institute: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

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