Shakespeare Edited, Various Editions Published

1916

Nicholas Rowe, Poet Laureate, Was the First to Attempt It

The first folio was printed partly from the earlier quartos and partly from manuscript copies in the hands of players. It did not have the careful editing that so important a work should have had, but it preserved from destruction a number of the plays that had not appeared in quarto form.

Nicholas Rowe, poet laureate and dramatist in his edition of 1709 made the first attempt to edit Shakespeare in the modem sense. He modernized spelling, punctuation and grammar, added lists of dramatis personae and divided the acts and scenes properly. Since his time editors have been busily engaged in corrections and emendations.

Alexander Pope, the second editor, issued his Shakespeare in 1723, and this was followed in 1733 by Lewis Theobald's edition, whose bitter attack upon Pope in "Shakespeare Restored" led to the latter's making Theobald the dull and pedantic hero of his "Dunciad." The handsome edition by Sir. Thomas Hanmer appeared in 1744 and William Warburton's in 1747. Dr. Samuel Johnson's edition was published in 1765. Then came Edward Capell's in 1767-68. George Steevens' in 1773, Joseph Rann's in 1780-94 and Edward Malone's in 1790.