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Shakspere & Typography

Written by William Blades

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Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616

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About this book

"Shakspere & Typography" by William Blades is a scholarly work written in the late 19th century. This book explores the relationship between William Shakespeare and the art of printing, specifically arguing that Shakespeare possessed intimate knowledge of typographical principles. Blades, a printer himself, delves into how Shakespeare’s experiences in a printing office may have influenced his literary works. In this text, Blades puts forth a compelling argument that Shakespeare was employed in the printing trade during his early years in London, likely working for the printer Thomas Vautrollier. Through careful analysis of Shakespeare's works, Blades identifies numerous references to printing and typographical terminology, suggesting that these allusions reflect a deep familiarity with the craft. He examines various plays and sonnets, highlighting phrases and concepts that are strikingly aligned with the practices of printing. By combining literary analysis with historical context, Blades makes a case for a connection between Shakespeare’s life experiences and his literary output, enhancing our understanding of one of history's greatest writers.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Shakspere & Typography, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • advanced
  • scholarly
  • analytical
  • historical

William Blades's "Shakspere & Typography" is a late 19th-century scholarly investigation proposing that William Shakespeare possessed a deep, experiential knowledge of the printing trade. Blades, himself a printer, meticulously argues that Shakespeare likely worked in a London printing office during his early years, possibly for Thomas Vautrollier, and that this intimate familiarity profoundly influenced his literary output. The book analyzes numerous allusions to printing and typographical terminology within Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, suggesting these are not mere coincidences but reflections of firsthand experience. By blending historical context with close textual analysis, Blades offers a compelling, albeit speculative, case for a direct link between Shakespeare's early life and his artistic creation, enriching our understanding of the bard's creative process.

“"It is not too much to say that the compositor's eye and the printer's mark are everywhere discernible in the works of Shakespeare."”

Key themes

The Interplay of Craft and Art
This theme explores how practical, manual labor and specific trade knowledge can profoundly influence and enrich artistic creation. Blades argues that Shakespeare's potential experiences in a printing office provided him with a unique vocabulary, metaphorical framework, and a keen eye for detail that permeated his literary works, suggesting that genius is often forged not just in abstract thought but in tangible engagement with the world.
Historical Reconstruction and Speculation
The book delves into the methodologies and challenges of inferring historical truths from limited evidence. Blades undertakes a significant act of historical reconstruction, using textual analysis and contextual knowledge to speculate about Shakespeare's undocumented early years. This theme highlights the inherent difficulties in piecing together biographies of figures from the distant past and the role of informed conjecture in scholarly inquiry.
The Materiality of Text
This theme emphasizes that literary works are not just abstract ideas but physical artifacts shaped by the technologies and processes of their creation and dissemination. Blades underscores the importance of the printing press in early modern England, arguing that the physical act of setting type and printing pages had a tangible impact on the very language and structure of the texts produced, including Shakespeare's.

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