On December 14, 2023 the Folger’s virtual book club continues with a discussion of The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. To prepare for the discussion, we have pulled together a list of resources related to families in Shakespeare’s work and the Folger collection.
EXPLORE early modern family dynamics
- Aphorism therapy, or, How to cope with dishonest relatives
- Wooing and Wedding: Courtship and Marriage in Early Modern England
LEARN more about how family history can be traced
- Folger copy 54: The First Folio as family scrapbook
- Where do family trees come from?
- Symbols of Honor: Heraldry and Family History in Shakespeare’s England (Folger Exhibition)
LISTEN to related podcast episodes, including on Shakespeare’s own family relationships
- Episode 60: Shakespeare and Girlhood
- Episode 105: Imagining Shakespeare’s Wife
- Episode 150: Maggie O’Farrell on Hamnet
- Episode 180: Lena Cowen Orlin on The Private Life of William Shakespeare
TEST your knowledge of families in Shakespeare plays
We would like to thank the following organization for its generous support of this program
Join us for a future event
Reading Rhythms - Summer 2026
Reading Rhythms
The Folger is partnering with Reading Rhythms for a reading party in the Great Hall. Grab a book and stay cool! Enjoy silent reading periods, as well as 1-on-1 breakouts and group discussions.
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 6:30pm
Limited Tickets
Out of the Vault: Into the Heart of the Folger
Out of the Vault
Encounter remarkable books and manuscripts in this exhibition that connects with the multifaceted work of the Folger.
Through Jul 26, 2026
Family Workshop: Family Poetry Slam
Family Workshop: Family Poetry Slam
In this free workshop, families will learn about Shakespeare's different writing structures, then combine their words with Shakespeare’s to create their own unique sonnet!
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 at 11:30am & 1pm
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