Milton's Notes On Shakespeare Appear To Have Been Found (theguardian.com) 32
Almost 400 years after the first folio of Shakespeare was published in 1623, scholars believe they have identified the early owner of one copy of the text, who made hundreds of insightful annotations throughout: John Milton. The Guardian reports: The astonishing find, which academics say could be one of the most important literary discoveries of modern times, was made by Cambridge University fellow Jason Scott-Warren when he was reading an article about the anonymous annotator by Pennsylvania State University English professor Claire Bourne. Bourne's study of this copy, which has been housed in the Free Library of Philadelphia since 1944, dated the annotator to the mid-17th century, finding them alive to "the sense, accuracy, and interpretative possibility of the dialogue." She also provided many images of the handwritten notes, which struck Scott-Warren as looking oddly similar to Milton's hand.
The first folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays, published seven years after his death. Without it, 18 plays including Macbeth and The Tempest might have been lost to history. Around 750 first folios were printed, with 233 known to survive. They command huge sums at auction, with one selling for 1.87 million pounds three years ago. Scott-Warren has made a detailed comparison of the annotator's handwriting with the Paradise Lost poet's. He also believes that the work the annotator did to improve the text of the folio -- suggesting corrections and supplying additional material such as the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, along with cross-references to other works -- is similar to work Milton did in other books that survive from his library, including his copy of Boccaccio's Life of Dante.
The first folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays, published seven years after his death. Without it, 18 plays including Macbeth and The Tempest might have been lost to history. Around 750 first folios were printed, with 233 known to survive. They command huge sums at auction, with one selling for 1.87 million pounds three years ago. Scott-Warren has made a detailed comparison of the annotator's handwriting with the Paradise Lost poet's. He also believes that the work the annotator did to improve the text of the folio -- suggesting corrections and supplying additional material such as the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, along with cross-references to other works -- is similar to work Milton did in other books that survive from his library, including his copy of Boccaccio's Life of Dante.
Milton was only 15 in 1623 (Score:5, Interesting)
John Milton was born in 1608, and was still a child when the First Folio was published in 1623.
So presumably an adult purchased this copy, and then, many years later, gave it [or sold it] to Milton.
The pertinent question would be: Who recommended it to Milton? The memory of "Shakespeare" faded rapidly after "his" death, and only a handful of people would have remembered of the existence of the "Shakespeare" canon by the middle of the 17th Century.
So for folks interested in the Authorship Question [wikipedia.org], the identity of that gentleman - who had the prescience to invest in a copy of the First Folio, and also the vision to entrust John Milton with that copy - the identity of that gentleman would be of paramount importance.
Re: (Score:1)
Only 15, so an adult for 2 years?
Re:Milton was only 15 in 1623 (Score:5, Informative)
While Milton was a genius, I see no particular reason to assume his study of the Folio dates from the year of its publication.
We know that he had developed an interest in Shakespeare by his graduation from Cambridge in 1629; the following year he penned a poem which was anonymously included in the 1632 Second Folio. As the son of a well-to-do family he had leisure to pursue an intensive private study of English poetry which took up much of the following decade, and it would be logical to assume that his advanced study of Shakespeare took place at that time. Surely he would have acquired a copy of the First Folio, which at 15s was an expensive book, but not beyond his means.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Milton was only 15 in 1623 (Score:4, Funny)
While Milton was a genius,
He certainly invented a lot of board games with that Bradley guy!
Re: (Score:2)
And had a very nice stapler.
Re: (Score:2)
A true renaissance man. His kind is sorely missed
Re:Milton was only 15 in 1623 (Score:5, Insightful)
was still a child when the First Folio was published in 1623.......and only a handful of people would have remembered of the existence of the "Shakespeare" canon by the middle of the 17th Century.
If he was forgotten, why was the First Folio published, and followed by another edition a decade later? In the 1680s his plays were still being performed in playhouses designed by Christopher Wren. By that time he was no the most popular playwright to go see, but he was still being performed and was respected. The only era when Shakespeare was not performed was the Interregnum, when all plays were banned by the Puritans. After the Restoration, Shakespeare was played again. As for the authorship question, there was never a doubt until the 1840s, when the New England Transcendentalists couldn't imagine such a great author could also be an unserious actor.
To quote Milton himself, "kings for such a tomb would wish to die."
FORMATTED (Score:1)
>>>>> "If he was forgotten, why was the First Folio published"
The prevailing opinion is that the court of King James was phenomenally corrupt, that it wasn't safe to publish at the time, and that the eventual publication of the Folio was part & parcel of the release of de Vere's son, Henry [wikipedia.org], from the Tower of London, signalling a new freedom of speech in England [or at least a forgiveness of old grievances].
>>>>> " the New England Transcendentalists couldn't imagine suc
Re: Court of King James (Score:3)
ad verecundiam (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Get dat normie-cuck sh!t da he11 on outta hyunh. (Score:1)
Sorry, holmes, but we roll our eyes and chuckle at ad verecundiam [wikipedia.org].
LOLing...
Milton Berle? Or a rose? (Score:2)
Or Milton Friedman?
Even though Friedman's prose was as impenetrable and metaphorical as Shakespear, I'm guessing the comedian and actor probably is the more likely Milton.
But then again What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
Re: Antiques Road Show (Score:2)
It's possible the copy originally belonged to Milton's father who was well educated and living in London at the time. Also possible Milton bought it for himself as a used copy from another collector.
Obligatory... (Score:5, Funny)
Don't write this down, but I find Milton probably as boring as you find Milton. Mrs. Milton found him boring too. He's a little bit long-winded, he doesn't translate very well into our generation, and his jokes are terrible.
Re: (Score:2)
Mrs. Milton found him boring too.
Is that really true?
Re: (Score:2)
Yes. A short documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Shakespeare's Easter Eggs (Score:2)
One of history's (possibly the first and greatest) Easter egg in history is on the title page of Sonnets [wsu.edu], that shows Shakespeare's genius finding the right angle for his stories. It's a great riddle to solve, once you know it's there.
Enjoy!
Finally! (Score:1)
Turns out he kept the notes in the same place as his keys.
Re:Finally! (Score:4, Informative)
In Milton Keynes?
Unfortunately we lost the works of the Bottoms. (Score:2)
If only Milton had preserved the works of the brothers Nicholas and Nigel Bottom. Nick Bottom was supposedly an even greater writer than Shakespeare.
Re: (Score:1)
Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter (Score:2)
Milton: "How about Romeo and Juliet?"
Shakespeare: "Good title."