Shakespeare in Print

Reviews / Votes

'Andrew Murphy's Shakespeare in Print was already a decisive, even-handed, knowledgeable and smart survey of publishing Shakespeare over four centuries. This second edition is even better. In a testament to the energy of this field, and his own immersion in it, Murphy has substantially recast his work - not just by adding a necessary and revealing chapter on digital Shakespeares and the fascinating story of nineteenth-century editions in the formation of twenty-first century technologies. In addition, Shakespeare in Print has revisited and revised earlier parts of the story, drawing on new scholarship about Shakespeare's stationers and early print history, on what parts of the 'new textualism' have been mainstreamed into editing and what elements of the New Bibliography still hold sway, and on the relative importance of debates about authorial revision and collaboration. The result is a brilliant collation of scholarship on textual history, the history of print and publishing, and the impact of the social, cultural, and biographical on editing Shakespeare. In a field sometimes characterised by heat rather than light, it is luminescent: a wonderful book, like no other.' Emma Smith, University of Oxford 'I am full of admiration for the thoroughness and attention to detail with which Andrew Murphy has approached the extremely demanding task of bringing his hugely admired study up to date. When it first appeared it was greeted with general acclaim. The new edition seems likely to be similarly admired. Here, as in the original edition, the author succeeds admirably in presenting a mass of scholarly material in a readily comprehensible fashion. His style of writing is unfailingly lucid and elegant.' Stanley Wells, CBE, FRSL, Honorary President, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 'A formidable bibliographical achievement ... this is destined to become a key reference work for Shakespeareans. Thanks to [Murphy], those hunting for truffles in the Bard's back catalogue will have a far better chance of knowing what they are looking at, and how it relates to the field of Shakespeare publishing as a whole.' Times Literary Supplement 'An extraordinary work of bibliographical scholarship, at once scrupulously accurate and thoroughly entertaining.' Shakespeare Survey 'Murphy's [book is] monumental ... the staggering appendix of editions, the various indexes, the substantial bibliography leave one gasping for air and in full gratitude for what he has accomplished.' Renaissance Quarterly 'Andrew Murphy is having it both ways. Not content to produce an indispensable reference work, he has simultaneously written an immensely entertaining narrative that makes for compulsive reading ... Murphy brings [his material] alive with an enviable lightness of touch, making of Shakespeare in Print not only the authoritative scholarly history of Shakespeare publishing and editing but also a page-turner which many readers will find difficult to put down.' Around the Globe 'This is the second edition of an important book first published in 2003 ... This deeply learned, well-written volume will be an indispensable reference work for Shakespeareans ... Highly recommended.' W. Baker, Choice Magazine