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 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.
Actress Charlotte Cushman supports the Union troops
Posted
Author
Johnna Champion
19th century superstar Charlotte Cushman’s final performances included benefits for Union troops during the American Civil War. The fundraising organizers thanked her with commemorative albums now in the Folger collection.
150 years after her death Margaret of Anjou returned as a character in four early Shakespeare plays, Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3 and Richard III. She’s found fans in every era since, including in community performances on the island of Roatán.
Shakespeare’s poems and plays record the pleasures and perils of the table. In Shakespeare in the Kitchen, Marissa Nicosia explores what Shakespeare’s works can tell us about Renaissance recipes, and what these recipes can tell us about Shakespeare’s works.
Summer reading is one of the season’s great pleasures. Add to your TBR stack from our list of fiction and non-fiction titles exploring Shakespeare, his world, and our own. Happy reading!
From Hamlet to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and more: try out our quiz about Shakespeare’s plays within a play, when his characters put on shows of their own.
One of the books in the Folger collection is extraordinary for both its cover, the War of the Roses binding created by book artist Léon Maillard, and its contents, the Pavier quartos, an early try at publishing a collection of Shakespeare’s plays.
From Ellen Terry to Sir Ian McKellen, Shakespearean actors performing solo shows is a time-honored tradition. Austin Tichenor shares a wide-ranging sampling of one-person Shakespeare shows from the past century.
In Shakespeare’s Scholars, Sean Keilen explores one of the more comic parts from Hamlet, Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes, and why audiences, from Shakespeare’s time until quite recently, took the words of guidance quite seriously.
A round-up of gift ideas for graduation, weddings, or just because from our online Folger Shop. Books, jewelry and apparel, stationery, home, and more, perfect for lovers of Shakespeare and literature.
The American Women Who Transformed Shakespeare Editing
Posted
Author
Heather Wolfe
Charlotte Porter and Helen Clarke were outliers in the world of Shakespeare editing and scholarship—female, queer, non-academic, and the first editors to base their edition and analysis on the text of Shakespeare’s First Folio of 1623.
He’s quoted Shakespeare in numerous speeches, from his first as king to his most recent at the White House during his state visit at the end of April. But Charles III’s interest in Shakespeare goes all the way back to his school days.
A roundup of Shakespeare stories, including discoveries about his only London real estate purchase and family papers; all Shakespeare’s plays ranked as well as video games Shakespeare would love; and actors sharing Shakespeare.
