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Folger Finds

Bess of Hardwick, Elizabethan power player
Shakespeare and Beyond

Bess of Hardwick, Elizabethan power player

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Author
Heather Wolfe

Bess of Hardwick was the other famous Bess in Elizabethan England, after “Good Queen Bess,” aka Queen Elizabeth. Fabulously wealthy and savvy, she outlived four husbands, rising in status with each one. Trace her evolving power in letters from her last three husbands.

Fireworks in the early modern world
Shakespeare and Beyond

Fireworks in the early modern world

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

Explore fireworks in our collection, which include illustrations from extravagant public spectacles and technical manuals with instructions for making your own.

Charlotte Cushman and Twelfth Night
Shakespeare and Beyond

Charlotte Cushman and Twelfth Night

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Author
Johnna Champion

19th-century audiences adored Charlotte Cushman in Shakespeare, including Hamlet and Romeo but also Viola (and Cesario). Check out these Twelfth Night finds in our collection.

Fuseli's Shakespeare Paintings
Shakespeare and Beyond

Fuseli's Shakespeare Paintings

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

One of 18th-century Britain’s most prolific narrative painters, Henry Fuseli found inspiration in Shakespeare, with his painting of Macbeth and the witches one of his “best poetical conceptions.”

Folger Finds: A Shakespeare signboard
Shakespeare and Beyond

Folger Finds: A Shakespeare signboard

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

This signboard, probably created in the late 1600s to the early 1700s, is based on the popular “Chandos portrait”—the only portrait of Shakespeare that may have been painted from life.

Folger Finds: Anne of Cleves' gift to Henry VIII
Shakespeare and Beyond

Folger Finds: Anne of Cleves' gift to Henry VIII

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

Explore a uniquely inscribed Book of Hours presented to Henry VIII by his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

A letter from the Queen's lifelong favorite
Shakespeare and Beyond

A letter from the Queen's lifelong favorite

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Shakespeare & Beyond

A letter to Elizabeth I from the earl of Leicester, who was organizing the defense of Britain against the Spanish Armada at the time, shows their playful relationship.

Top 5 Folger Finds of 2022
Shakespeare and Beyond

Top 5 Folger Finds of 2022

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Author
Ben Lauer
Collection Connections: 'Shadowplay' by Joseph O'Connor
Folger Spotlight

Collection Connections: 'Shadowplay' by Joseph O'Connor

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Author
Folger Theatre

Held on the first Thursday of the month, the Folger’s virtual book club is free and open to all. Here, we revisit the items shared by Dr. Jason McElligott, Director of Marsh’s Library, on October 6, 2022 as an introduction…

Arthur Murphy's 18th-century collection of humor - Excerpt: "Laughing Histories" by Joy Wiltenburg
People laughing and playing music
Shakespeare and Beyond

Arthur Murphy's 18th-century collection of humor - Excerpt: "Laughing Histories" by Joy Wiltenburg

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Shakespeare & Beyond

“Murphy may be the first person in history to subject laughter to such intensive and extensive study, at least from the perspective of a laughter professional,” writes Joy Wiltenburg about the 18th-century writer’s 500-page compilation of humor, in this excerpt…

Henry VIII and herbals: Prince Charles and Camilla's visit to the Folger Shakespeare Library
Prince Charles and Camilla
Shakespeare and Beyond

Henry VIII and herbals: Prince Charles and Camilla's visit to the Folger Shakespeare Library

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

See some of the Folger collection items that Charles and Camilla examined when they visited the Folger in 2005, including an early modern book on plants that got the prince’s attention.

Collection Connections: 'Learwife' by J.R. Thorp
Folger Spotlight

Collection Connections: 'Learwife' by J.R. Thorp

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Author
emma poltrack

Held on the first Thursday of the month, the Folger’s virtual book club is free and open to all. Here, Dr. emma poltrack, shares items she presented on September 8, 2022 as an introduction to Learwife by J.R. Thorp.

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