The National Shakespeare in Three Volumes

6RR William Shakespeare. Illustrated by Sir J. Noel Paton. London: William Mackenzie, ca. 1888. Facsimile of the first folio of 1623. Three Volumes.

Notes

The plays of William Shakespeare have stood for centuries at the center of English literature, exploring themes of ambition, love, betrayal, power, and the complexity of human nature. From tragedies such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear to comedies like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s works combine poetic language with vivid characterization and dramatic storytelling. First gathered in the famous First Folio of 1623, the plays have continued to be printed, studied, and performed across generations, securing Shakespeare’s place as one of the most influential writers in world literature.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright and poet whose works helped shape the development of the English language and dramatic tradition. Writing during the Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods, he produced a remarkable body of plays and poems that have remained central to literary study and theatrical performance for more than four centuries. His ability to capture universal human emotions while crafting memorable dialogue and complex characters has ensured the enduring appeal of his works.

This edition of The National Shakespeare, illustrated by Sir Joseph Noel Paton and published in London by William Mackenzie, reflects the continued popularity of Shakespeare in the nineteenth century. Paton’s illustrations bring dramatic moments from the plays vividly to life, while the edition also includes a facsimile of the celebrated 1623 First Folio, connecting Victorian readers with the earliest collected printing of Shakespeare’s works. Such editions were produced to make Shakespeare’s plays accessible to a wide readership while presenting them in an attractively illustrated format that celebrated both the literary and artistic legacy of the playwright.

Description

Three volumes of the comedies, tragedies, and histories. Green leather binding with inlay design of black, red and gilt. Decked edges. Richly decorated with gilt ornamentation and lettering to spine. Gilt top edges. Some softening to head and foot of spine with some bumping to points. Folio. Very fine condition overall.