In Collecting Shakespeare, Stephen H. Grant explores the inspiring story of Henry and Emily Folger, a devoted couple from Brooklyn with a passion for Shakespeare and collecting. After their marriage in 1885, they began acquiring and cataloging various Shakespearean items. Emily pursued a master's degree in Shakespeare studies, while Henry, as president of Standard Oil Company of New York, funded their endeavors. The couple, determined to share their collection with the American public, secretly purchased land near the Library of Congress to avoid inflating book prices. They commissioned a beautiful building featuring a reading room, exhibition hall, and an Elizabethan Theatre, which opened on April 23, 1932, Shakespeare's birthday. The Folger Shakespeare Library now houses 82 First Folios, 275,000 books, and 60,000 manuscripts, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. It serves as a vital resource for scholars and researchers worldwide and hosts cultural events such as theater, concerts, and lectures. Grant's access to the Folger vault and interviews with relatives, along with visits to 35 related archives in the U.S. and Britain, allow him to paint a vivid portrait of the couple who created a lasting legacy for Shakespeare in America.
