Journal article
Introduction: Shakespeare for Sale
Philological quarterly, Vol.91(2), pp.139-150
03/22/2012
Abstract
In the preliminaries to the volume of Shakespeare's collected plays published in 1623 (Pirst Polio) the compilers John Heminge and Henry Condell say little about the literary quality or style of the plays, beyond the remark that Shakespeare was a happie imitator of Nature, and that the plays "haue had their trial alreadie" -- that is, they have already proven successful on stage. And although their epistle is addressed to the great Variety of Readers Heminge and Condell are less concerned with readers than with customers as they write, the fate of all Bookes depends won your capacities: and not of your heads alone, but of your purses. It is this anxiety over the potential success of the book that leads to their insistent injunctions that what euer you do, Buy. Shakespeare's quality is determined not by the critical judgments of readers, but of the willingness of customers to purchase the volume. That is, Shakespeare's cultural and artistic value is determined by his commercial viability.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Introduction: Shakespeare for Sale
- Creators
- Adam Hooks
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Philological quarterly, Vol.91(2), pp.139-150
- Publisher
- University of Iowa, Philological Quarterly
- ISSN
- 0031-7977
- eISSN
- 2169-5342
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/22/2012
- Academic Unit
- English; Interdisciplinary Studies Program
- Record Identifier
- 9984397927202771
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