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Shakespeare & Beyond

Shakespeare & Beyond

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.

Cursing Coriolanus and combating cornhoarders
title page
Shakespeare and Beyond

Cursing Coriolanus and combating cornhoarders

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Author
Lauren Shook

Coriolanus at the Lyceum / Cyrus C. Cuneo. 1901. Folger ART Box C972 no.1 (size XL)In 1608, famine plagued England. Preachers responded with sermons begging the gentry to show compassion for the poor, King James I responded with royal proclamations…

“The way to save wealth; showing how a man may live plentifully for two-pence a day”: A 17th-century guide to frugal living
Shakespeare and Beyond

“The way to save wealth; showing how a man may live plentifully for two-pence a day”: A 17th-century guide to frugal living

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Author
Esther French

A common New Year’s resolution is to save more money, and there are numerous personal-finance books and websites that offer step-by-step plans for spending less, whether out of present necessity or in the hope of reaching a future financial goal.…

Introducing Wild Things: Animals in early modern life and culture
title page
Shakespeare and Beyond

Introducing Wild Things: Animals in early modern life and culture

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Author
Haylie Swenson

Edward Topsell. The historie of foure-footed beastes. 1607. Title page. Folger STC 24123 Copy 2 How many animals have you encountered today, and in what forms? From pets and urban species such as squirrels and sparrows, to meat products and…

Year in review: Top Shakespeare & Beyond stories of 2019
Shakespeare and Beyond

Year in review: Top Shakespeare & Beyond stories of 2019

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

What were some of our most popular stories this year? Let’s take a look. Chopping chocolate. Photo by Teresa Wood. Recipe adaptations and blog posts about food culture We published several recipes in conjunction with First Chefs: Fame and Foodways…

Top 10 Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episodes of 2019
Shakespeare and Beyond

Top 10 Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episodes of 2019

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

Our top Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episodes from 2019 feature interviews with authors, directors, actors, and scholars. Happy listening! 1. Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches In 1994, Deborah Harkness was doing research at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library when she stumbled…

Have yourself a merry Shakespeare Christmas
Shakespeare and Beyond

Have yourself a merry Shakespeare Christmas

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Author
Austin Tichenor

It’s that time of year, when some of us have visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads, many are looking forward to (or dreading) gathering with family and friends, and a certain subset of us wonder, somewhat longingly and…

Six miniature Shakespeare books to delight and intrigue you
Shakespeare and Beyond

Six miniature Shakespeare books to delight and intrigue you

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Shakespeare & Beyond

Have you seen some of the smallest books in the Folger Shakespeare Library collection? We’ve been sharing miniature Folger Finds on Instagram throughout the year as these books joined a rotating display of items from the James L. Harner Collection of…

We asked 5 artistic directors: How did making Shakespeare change in the 2010s?
Shakespeare wearing novelty 2010 New Years glasses.
Shakespeare and Beyond

We asked 5 artistic directors: How did making Shakespeare change in the 2010s?

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Author
Ben Lauer

We asked five artistic directors from Shakespeare companies around the United States: How did making Shakespeare change between 2010 and 2020? Plus, we recap a wild decade for Shakespeare lovers.

Excerpt: The Afterlife of Shakespeare's Sonnets
book cover
Shakespeare and Beyond

Excerpt: The Afterlife of Shakespeare's Sonnets

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Shakespeare & Beyond

Why weren’t Shakespeare’s sonnets included in the First Folio? And what was the effect on the way that later readers and critics considered Shakespeare’s total body of work? Jane Kingsley-Smith of Roehampton University, London, explores these questions in the below…

The Shakespeare 2020 Project: A plan to read through the complete works in one year
Shakespeare and Beyond

The Shakespeare 2020 Project: A plan to read through the complete works in one year

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Author
Ian Doescher

As the author of books that retell Star Wars in the style of Shakespeare, I am often asked, “If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only take the complete works of Shakespeare or the Star Wars…

Knots, cookies, and women's skill
knotts cookies
Shakespeare and Beyond

Knots, cookies, and women's skill

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Author
Marissa Nicosia

A plate of beautifully baked cookies is a wonderful thing. It is a welcoming gesture for guests, it signifies a holiday or a special meal, and it is a demonstration of a baker’s skill at making something pleasing to the…

Seven Christmas gift ideas for Shakespeare fans
Shakespeare insult mug
Shakespeare and Beyond

Seven Christmas gift ideas for Shakespeare fans

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Shakespeare & Beyond

We’ve got seven Shakespeare-themed holiday gift ideas for you, selected from the Folger Shop and all less than $20. Find something for your friends, your family members, or yourself. And if you would like more ideas, see our eight present…

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