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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.

Savory biscuits from a 17th-century recipe
Savory Cogs Biscuits. All photography by Brittany Diliberto. www.beetwosweet.com
Shakespeare and Beyond

Savory biscuits from a 17th-century recipe

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Author
Elisa Tersigni Jack Bouchard

Interested in adding variety to your Thanksgiving dinner? Try this modernized 17th-century recipe for savory biscuits based on a manuscript in the Folger collection.

Elsie Leslie: Sparkling Child Star of the American Stage
Elsie Leslie Lyde. Photograph. Folger Shakespeare Library.
Shakespeare and Beyond

Elsie Leslie: Sparkling Child Star of the American Stage

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Author
emma poltrack

Discover American child star Elsie Leslie through a fascinating mix of Folger finds, including Elsie Leslie as Prince Arthur in King John and posing for a photo with preeminent actor Edwin Booth.

Shakespeare and World War I
Simplicissimus. Shakespeare and Cervantes edition. April 18, 1916. Folger Shakespeare Library.
Shakespeare and Beyond

Shakespeare and World War I

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Author
Georgianna Ziegler

In 1916, the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death coincided with World War I, although the United States had not yet entered the conflict, yet both the US and European combatants on both sides of the war took time to honor…

In the spirit of Oktoberfest: Food, drink, and changing times in early modern Europe
Hartmann Schopper. Panoplia omnium… 1568. Folger Shakespeare Library.
Shakespeare and Beyond

In the spirit of Oktoberfest: Food, drink, and changing times in early modern Europe

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Author
Jack Bouchard

As October comes to an end, we celebrate food, drink, and culture in the German cities of Shakespeare’s day, including the creation of beer and wine and the harvest festivals each fall, marked by our modern-day tradition of Oktoberfest.

Drawing Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet. Paul Glenshaw.
Shakespeare and Beyond

Drawing Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

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Author
Paul Glenshaw

Artist Paul Glenshaw describes Romeo, Juliet, and the Nurse, poised at a key moment in his drawing of “Romeo and Juliet” from a Folger bas-relief.

This thing of darkness: Caliban and the Creature from Frankenstein
The Tempest at His Majesty's Theatre, Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Caliban. Charles A. Buchel. Tatler, 1904. Folger Shakespeare Library.
Shakespeare and Beyond

This thing of darkness: Caliban and the Creature from Frankenstein

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Author
Austin Tichenor

As Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” marks its 200th anniversary (and with Halloween on its way), Austin Tichenor explores the parallels between the Creature from “Frankenstein” and Caliban from “The Tempest” and their fictional creators: Frankenstein and Prospero–as well as what…

Play on! Yvette Nolan on translating 'Henry IV, Part 1'
Shakespeare and Beyond

Play on! Yvette Nolan on translating 'Henry IV, Part 1'

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

If you’ve been following the Shakespeare & Beyond blog, you’ll know that the Folger has been doing a monthly series of Q&As with some of the playwrights and dramaturgs involved with Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Play on! project to translate all…

A world of poison: The Overbury scandal
Tower. Richard III, Act III, scene 5. Thomas Medland. ART File L847t2 no.3 (size XS). Before 1812. Folger Shakespeare Library.
Shakespeare and Beyond

A world of poison: The Overbury scandal

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Author
emma poltrack

The poisoning in Shakespeare’s play King John, and in Romeo and Hamlet, too, had real-world parallels, too. Delve into the infamous story of Thomas Overbury’s death at the Tower of London in 1613.

What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in October
A song and dance number from Chicago Shakespeare's North American premiere production of “Nell Gwynn.”
Shakespeare and Beyond

What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in October

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Author
Ben Lauer

Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. What plays are onstage this month? We visit our theater partners to find out.

Shakespeare Uncovered debuts its third season
F. Murray Abraham in Shakespeare Uncovered. Photo: Rory Mulvey
Shakespeare and Beyond

Shakespeare Uncovered debuts its third season

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

The TV series “Shakespeare Uncovered” returns this Friday, October 12, with richly visual episodes. Watch video previews of Helen Hunt on “Much Ado About Nothing” and F. Murray Abraham on “The Merchant of Venice.”

At the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, "UpRight" readings in surprise locations
Shakespeare and Beyond

At the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, "UpRight" readings in surprise locations

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Author
Ben Lauer

The Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Pop-UpRight Shakespeare series brings lively, “upright,” on-your-feet staged readings of Shakespeare’s plays to surprise locations in and around Nashville.

Folger Finds: 19th-century actors in Shakespearean roles
Edmund Kean
Shakespeare and Beyond

Folger Finds: 19th-century actors in Shakespearean roles

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Author
Kristen Sieck

See portraits from the Folger collection of Edmund Kean as Richard III, Ellen Terry as Beatrice, Edwin Booth as Iago, and Fanny Kemble as Juliet.

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