The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare

The “First Folio” was printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, thanks to two of Shakespeare’s fellow actors, who compiled 36 of his plays, hoping to preserve them for future generations. It is the first collected edition of his plays, many of which had not ever been published.

“We know that at least 18 of the plays had never been published before and had it not been for John Heminges and Henry Condell’s efforts, those plays, including ‘Macbeth,’ ‘The Tempest,’ ‘Twelfth Night,’ and ‘Julius Caesar’ would very likely have been lost,” said Paine, who noted that the exhibit was organized to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.

The Parthenon is one of only 52 sites in the United States to host the traveling exhibit of the Folio, which is worth millions because of its rarity and the fact that the compilation saved these important plays from obscurity.

“The book itself is not an object of great beauty — not like an illuminated manuscript, for instance,” Paine said, “but the wonder of it is the content, the fact that it was ever completed, and the staggering importance of the latest technological innovation, the printing press, in making it possible.

As I told Himself, this is a really big deal to me.  

Shakespeare's plays printed printed so close to his life.  It was so cool to see that book.  I probably stared at it for 10 minutes.

Can you even imagine NOT knowing this line?

There were panels with Shakespeare facts to read.

Hmmm... didn't realize The Doctor was Shakespearean.  😉

All this phrases coming from the Bard's pen.  How many do you know?

“All our yesterdays”— (Macbeth)

 “As good luck would have it” — (The Merry Wives of Windsor)

 “As merry as the day is long” — (Much Ado About Nothing / King John)

 “Bated breath” — (The Merchant of Venice)

 “Be-all and the end-all” — (Macbeth)

 “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” — (Hamlet)

 “Brave new world” — (The Tempest)

 “Break the ice” — (The Taming of the Shrew)

 “Brevity is the soul of wit” — (Hamlet)

 “Refuse to budge an inch” — (Measure for Measure / The Taming of the Shrew)

 “Cold comfort” — (The Taming of the Shrew / King John)

 “Conscience does make cowards of us all” — (Hamlet)

 “Crack of doom” — (Macbeth)

 “Dead as a doornail” — (Henry VI Part II)

 “A dish fit for the gods” — (Julius Caesar)

 “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war” — (Julius Caesar)

 “Devil incarnate” — (Titus Andronicus / Henry V)

 “Eaten me out of house and home” — (Henry IV Part II)

 “Faint hearted” — (Henry VI Part I)

 “Fancy-free” — (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

 “Forever and a day” — (As You Like It)

 “For goodness’ sake” — (Henry VIII)

 “Foregone conclusion” — (Othello)

 “Full circle” — (King Lear)

 “The game is afoot” — (Henry IV Part I)

 “Give the devil his due” — (Henry IV Part I)

 “Good riddance” — (Troilus and Cressida)

 “Jealousy is the green-eyed monster” — (Othello)

 “Heart of gold” — (Henry V)

And with that "good night, sweet prince..."