We were thrilled that about twenty members of The New Swan Shakespeare Festival company came to our Reading Room yesterday to see the First Folio and other Shakespeare related material from our collection. Julia Lupton, UCI Professor of English and Comparative Literature, joined the group and shared her expertise in Shakespeare as we discussed the material. In addition to the First Folio we looked at the first facsimile of the first edition published in 1807, the Norton facsimile prepared by Charlton Hinman in 1968, pamphlets on Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet as performed by Madame Helena Modjeska in 1883, cabinet card photographs of Helena Modjeska in costume for roles in Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet, and miniature books of plays by Shakespeare.  It was a great opportunity to view and discuss the various editions of Shakespeare. As one of the cast members said “This has really tied the history of Shakespeare’s early books to our productions this summer. It’s provided greater historical context.” It was a wonderful event and we hope to do it again next summer! [Photographs by Allan Helmick.]

Professor Lupton will present two Noontime Seminars at Langson Library on August 13 (Romeo and Juliet) and August 20 (Twelfth Night).