William Shakespeare’s book will be exhibited for only five hours on Monday, Apr 24, and there will be a 10-minute talk every hour of the day
The year 2023 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the First Folio, a collection of William Shakespeare’s plays that was first printed in 1623. To commemorate this milestone, the British Library is putting on a special exhibition showcasing one of the rarest copies of the First Folio in existence.
The copy in question is one of only around 230 surviving copies of the First Folio, which was printed seven years after Shakespeare’s death. The First Folio is considered to be one of the most important books in the English language, as it contains the first printed versions of many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, including “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” and “King Lear.”
The exhibition at the British Library will feature this rare copy of the First Folio alongside other Shakespeare-related artifacts, including manuscripts, maps, and artwork. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the First Folio up close and examine its pages, which are filled with annotations and corrections made by the book’s original owner.
The exhibition will also explore the significance of the First Folio in the history of English literature, as well as its impact on the way we think about Shakespeare today. It will examine how the publication of the First Folio helped to shape the image of Shakespeare as a literary genius, and how it influenced the way his plays were performed and studied in the centuries that followed.
For Shakespeare enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history of English literature, this exhibition is a rare opportunity to see one of the most important books in the world up close and to learn about its enduring legacy.
