The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.
Shakespeare & Beyond
Shakespeare & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
Questions or comments? You can reach us at shakespeareandbeyond@folger.edu.
Famous quotes from Cymbeline
This late romance combines tragedy and comedy in an improbable tale filled with powerful emotions and one of the finest songs in all of Shakespeare, “Fear no more the heat o’ th’ sun.” Explore some of the most well-known quotes, in order of their appearance in the play.
Shakespeare and America
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we’re exploring the larger-than-life role played by an English playwright from more than 400 years ago in American entertainment, education, and history. Enjoy a round-up of Folger podcasts and blog posts about Shakespeare’s influence in America.
Quiz: Who said (or wrote) that?
Shakespeare has been so influential that quotes by other writers, often centuries later, are wrongly credited to him. Take our quiz about the quotes he didn’t write!
Artist Dominick Porras Reconstructs Classical Narratives of the Americas
Porras, a Folger Artist Fellow, shares what inspired him, from the Folger collection to Indigenous futurism, in the creation of his new media work, de Bry’s Slipstream.
Famous quotes from King Lear
Shakespeare’s tragedy is filled with memorable lines about power. Explore some of the most well-known quotes, in order of their appearance in the play.
Celebrating Twelfth Night
Shakespeare didn’t write any plays about Christmas—but he did write one for the festive season. More on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and the holiday of Twelfth Night.
Top five Shakespeare & Beyond blog posts of 2025
Enjoy our top five Shakespeare & Beyond blog posts from 2025. Happy reading!
Top five podcast episodes of 2025
Enjoy the top five Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episodes from 2025, ranked by number of listens. Happy listening!
The Women Who Inspired Jane Austen
Jane Austen wrote at a time of great experimentation for women writers yet little is known of them today. In Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, rare book dealer Rebecca Romney recreates what Jane read. In this excerpt, we learn how the project began.
Imagining Shakespeare on Canvas
Take a time machine back to 18th-century London and John Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery, visited by everyone who was anyone, from Jane Austen to the Prince of Wales. But why make a gallery devoted to Shakespeare? And who was Boydell?
Mince pies for the holidays
Food historian Sam Bilton thinks the savory, meat-filled mince pie is due for a comeback. She shares her recipe from Much Ado About Cooking, produced with Shakespeare’s Globe, for mince pies made with lamb and spiced with cloves and mace.
Quiz: Holidays and Shakespeare
‘Tis the season to have fun with our quiz on the holidays and Shakespeare.