The Huntington Library holds one of the richest collections in the world of Shakespeare's writings in the original published editions. This generously illustrated volume introduces readers to Shakespeare the man, the poet, and the playwright using examples from the Huntington's quartos, folios, and other rare books. The book discusses the first, second, third, and fourth folios, gives special emphasis to the Library's collection of quarto copies of many of the plays and poems published in Shakespeare's lifetime, and addresses many other aspects of Shakespeare scholarship.

Illustrated with original paintings, drawings, and watercolors in the Huntington collections, many of them never before published, this splendid volume also features illustrations from the 44-volume extra-illustrated Shakespeare compiled by Thomas Turner of Gloucester in 1835.

Jane Purcell has taught Shakespeare to high school students in Claremont, California, for 20 years.