Shakespeare: The Four Folios

Shakespeare's Four Folios were published between 1623 and 1685. Although 'folio' refers to the large size of the books, it is also a reflection of the standing in which the plays and their author were held. Up until the publication of the First Folio, works of literature had never before been produced in such large and luxurious a format. In each of the folios, the 26 plays are arranged in genres of Comedies, Histories and Tragedies and include introductory notes by the editors, Heming and Condell. Routledge/Thoemmes Press have re-published the Four Folios in their original size and format, as they would have appeared in the 17th Century.