This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite books. I've read it three or four times in the year or so since I bought it. It tells the story of Shakespeare's First Folio, the first time Shakespeare's works were collected. Without this book a great many of these plays would never have been heard from again.
Collins travels the world from London to Washington D.C. to Tokyo seeking out information on the Folio. He talks to collectors, curators, and other researchers. Collins also shows how many of the specific copies of the Folio have been traced across hundreds of years. I find this concept fascinating since it combines books, history, and genealogy which are three of my favorite topics.
I cannot say it enough, if you like books, book collecting, Shakespeare, or the history of the theatre then buy this book! You'll learn things about each of those topics, along with many others. I love this book and I'm not really into Shakespeare's plays. The only time that I've read them is when required to do so.
If you like this topic then you should check out The Shakespeare Thefts by Eric Rasmussen, it focuses on First Folios that have been stolen and the stories behind the thefts.
Collins also has a wonderful website and is on Twitter @thelitdetective. He was also just nominated for an Edgar award for The Murder of the Century, The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized a City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars which I can't wait to read, along with his book Sixpence House. The latter is about his time spent living in Hay-onWye, which is basically a town of bookstores. Sounds like a great place to live to me.
As always, let me know if you liked the book, either in the comments below or at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com. I'm also on twitter @jeffsbookcase.
