Shakspere & Typography

In a time when the craft of printing was still cloaked in mystery, a single scholar‑printer set out to prove that Shakespeare’s genius may have been rooted in the very press that birthed his words. The work opens with a witty lament about modern printers losing touch with literature, then introduces William Blades, a nineteenth‑century bibliographer whose lifelong obsession with early typefaces fuels the investigation. Readers are invited to imagine a young Shakespeare navigating London’s bustling print shops, perhaps learning the trade before ever stepping onto a stage.

Blades assembles a compelling case by cherry‑picking curiosities from Shakespeare’s texts and matching them to the quirks of first‑edition printing. He sketches the rival theories that cast the playwright as doctor, soldier, or sailor, then turns the argument on its head, suggesting that typographical slips and layout choices betray an intimate familiarity with the press. The tone is scholarly yet conversational, peppered with historic anecdotes about press‑gangs and the everyday life of Elizabethan printers.

This reissued treatise offers a fresh lens for anyone fascinated by the crossroads of literature and material culture. While it stops short of revealing any definitive resolution, it equips listeners with a richer appreciation for the physical world that may have shaped Shakespeare’s imagination, making it a rewarding listen for book lovers, history buffs, and typography enthusiasts alike.