Shakespeare's First Folio Published
1623 AD · Early Modern
The First Folio, officially titled 'Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies', was published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death. Edited by his fellow actors John Heminges and Henry Condell, it was the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays, containing 36 of his dramatic works. The First Folio preserved 18 plays that had never been published before, including Macbeth, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night, which might otherwise have been lost.
Key Figures
William ShakespeareJohn HemingesHenry CondellIsaac JaggardWilliam JaggardEdward Blount
Locations
LondonJaggard Print Shop, Barbican
Topics
artcomedyEnglandliteratureplaytragedy
Connected Events — 5 Connections
First collected publication of plays including Antony and Cleopatra Published
Romeo and Juliet was included in the 1623 First Folio which preserved the authoritative text after earlier quartos had circulated unauthorized versions Romeo and Juliet First Performed
Richard III was among the most frequently performed Shakespeare plays collected in the 1623 First Folio which preserved the text in its authoritative form Richard III Performed
Hamlet's success drove the commercial need to preserve Shakespeare's works in print Hamlet First Performed
Globe fire during Henry VIII was among Shakespeare final theatrical events; after his 1616 death colleagues compiled the First Folio to preserve plays existing only in playhouse manuscripts Henry VIII Performed and Globe Theatre Fire
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