The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.
Shakespeare & Beyond
![Shax_beyond_small_banner](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2022/11/Shax_beyond_small_banner.jpg?resize=1200%2C400&gravity)
Shakespeare & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
Questions or comments? You can reach us at shakespeareandbeyond@folger.edu.
![Champagne New Year's Eve](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/Champagne-New-Years-FB-copy.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Seven quotes (and a song) from Shakespeare for New Year’s
A bit of Shakespeare to help you reflect on the past year, plan for the next, or just impress your friends or family with a well-placed quote in a New Year’s Eve toast.
![Akala-Ian-McKellen-THSC](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/Akala-Ian-McKellen-THSC.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Revisit the top five Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episodes of 2017
The most popular podcast episode was about attributing Christopher Marlowe as co-author for the “Henry VI” plays and how scholars make that decision.
![A Christmas Messe A Christmas Messe](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/A-Christmas-Messe-page-1.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
All the table's a stage: A 1619 Christmas play for food
In this unconventional Christmas play from 1619, the characters are different foods warring against one another for pride of place at the holiday feast.
![029226 A Midsummer Night's Dream](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/029226.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
The author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland gave this beautiful edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream to his illustrator for Christmas
Lewis Carroll gave this lovely 1868 edition of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with delicate cut-paper images by Paul Konewka, to his illustrator for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” John Tenniel.
![Recipe for mirth from the cookbook of L. Cromwell Recipe for mirth from the cookbook of L. Cromwell](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/122252-mirth-recipe.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Mince pies and mirth: Transcribed 17th-century recipes
Mince pies and a honey-spiced drink called mirth are just two of hundreds of recipes found in a 17th-century handwritten recipe book once owned by Leticia Cromwell.
![008916-album-amicorum Call number 158- 133q](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/008916-album-amicorum.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
The five most popular #FolgerFinds in 2017
Take a look at our five most popular #FolgerFinds posts on Instagram, from early modern eclipses to the first edition of Shakespeare’s “Richard III.”
![London's Triumph by Stephen Alford London's Triumph by Stephen Alford](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/12/Londons-Triumph-Stephen-Alford.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Usury and 'The Merchant of Venice': An excerpt from 'London's Triumph' by Stephen Alford
This excerpt from “London’s Triumph” by Stephen Alford looks at the Elizabethan understanding of usury, seen through Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.”
![Austin Tichenor as Richard Burbage Austin Tichenor as Richard Burbage](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/11/Richard-Burbage-Austin-Tichenor-group-table.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Playing Richard Burbage
Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company shares what it’s like to play Richard Burbage onstage in Lauren Gunderson’s “The Book of Will.”
![Barbara Mowat on editing Shakespeare Barbara Mowat on editing Shakespeare](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/11/Barbara-Mowat.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Barbara Mowat on editing Shakespeare
Editing Shakespeare’s works is a complex process, explains Barbara Mowat, who with Paul Werstine edited the Folger Shakespeare Library editions.
![Sonnet 18 t-shirt Sonnet 18 t-shirt](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/11/Sonnet-18-tee.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Five Christmas gift ideas for Shakespeare fans
We’ve got five Shakespeare-themed Christmas gift ideas for you, selected from the Folger shop and all under $20, from games to artwork and more.
![Shakespeares-Birthday-2016-TracyRusso Photo by Tracy Russo](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/11/Shakespeares-Birthday-2016-TracyRusso.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Sharing a love of Shakespeare with your family
Families share Shakespeare together in so many ways, such as watching his plays, quoting familiar lines, or throwing a Shakespeare birthday party.
![Red Velvet at CST Celebrated Stratford Festival performer Dion Johnstone portrays trailblazing African-American actor Ira Aldridge, whose Othello shocked nineteenth-century London, in Chicago Shakespeare’s Red Velvet, directed by Gary Griffin, in the Courtyard Theater, December 1, 2017–January 21, 2018. Photo by Jeff Sciortino.](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2017/11/CST-Red-Velvet-JeffSciortino.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Shakespeare onstage in November and December
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. Let’s check in with our theater partners with Shakespeare plays onstage in November and December.