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The Millionaire and the Bard
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
9 posts | 6 read | 30 to read
The miraculous and romantic story of Shakespeares First Folio, and of the American industrialist whose thrilling pursuit of the book became a lifelong obsession: Mayss narrative is so fast-moving, and peppered with such fascinating detail, it almost reads like a thriller (Entertainment Weekly, Grade: A). When Shakespeare died in 1616, half of his plays died with him. No onenot even their authorbelieved that his writings would last. In 1623, seven years after his death, Shakespeares business partners, companions, and fellow actors gathered copies of his plays and manuscripts and published thirty-six of them. This massive book, the First Folio, was intended as a memorial to their deceased friend. They could not have known that it would become one of the most important books ever published in the English language. Over two and a half centuries later, a young man fresh out of law school, Henry Folger, bought a book at auctiona later, 1685 edition Fourth Folio, for $107.50. It was the beginning of an obsession that would consume the rest of his life. Folger rose to be president of Standard Oil, and he used his fortune to create the greatest Shakespeare collection in the world. By the time he died, Folger owned more First Folios than anyone and had founded the Folger Shakespeare Library, where his collection still resides. In The Millionaire and the Bard, Andrea Mays spins the tale of Shakespeare and of his collector, of the genius whose work we nearly lost, the men who had the foresight to preserve it, and the millionaire who, centuries later, was consumed by his obsession with it. Effortless in its unadorned storytelling and exacting in its research, this is a page-turning detective story (Publishers Weekly).
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StaceyKondla
StaceyKondla
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
post image

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 255 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram

57 likes1 stack add
blurb
LeahBergen
LeahBergen
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Henry Folger had enough #MoneyMoneyMoney to amass the world‘s greatest collection of Shakespeare‘s works, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.

#ABBAinAugust
#BooksAboutBooks

tagged users iconCinfhen, Reviewsbylola, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch, Meredith3
Reviewsbylola You always post the best books! 6y
batsy This sounds good! 6y
emilyhaldi Oooohh I love a good nonfiction!!! #stacked 6y
See All 9 Comments
Mdargusch I agree with @Reviewsbylola ! This sounds fascinating! 6y
Cinfhen Great photo and interesting sounding book #stacked 😘 6y
Aimeesue The Folger Shakespeare Museum is excellent. They own the greatest number of First Folios of any organization. They keep one on display, which is pretty neat. I still need to get there on a Saturday morning, as that's the only time looky-looks can get into the reading room to see the 7 Ages of Man stained glass windows. 6y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue I desperately want to visit it one day! 😩 6y
Aimeesue @LeahBergen You could do a whole literary tour of the D.C. Area! Visit the Folger, Go to the Library of Congress to see Pa Ingall's Homestead claim, cruise up to Baltimore and see the Edgar Allen Poe, home… and definitely come on Labor Day weekend so you can go to the National Book Festival! 😄 6y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue I‘m going to look back on this post for my itinerary when I finally visit! 😘 6y
117 likes3 stack adds9 comments
blurb
mklong
mklong
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Shakespeare's First Folio has finally arrived at Emory for an exhibit!! They've been hyping it's arrival for a year now, so I'm excited to finally see it! I'll be reading these two this weekend to celebrate.

LauraBeth Oh I had no idea! Thanks for posting - the hubs works at Emory 😀 8y
MrBook Nice! Just had my and @BookBabe 's copy signed 😁👍🏻! 8y
9 likes2 comments
blurb
MrBook
MrBook
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Andrea Mays signing our copy of "The Millionaire and the Bard". It's an investigative story regarding Folger and his library, particularly his peerless Shakespeare collection, and some interesting mysteries surrounding it. She spoke to a packed church. What a warm woman to meet! Look at how she holds her pen--I've only ever seen a handful of people hold it that way, and they were all authors. Isn't that interesting?

BookishFeminist Folger Library and Theatre is really cool. They have a really great collection of stuff & put on great performances. I've taken stage fighting classes & performed there myself before! Such an awesome Shakespeare resource. 8y
Posemn I wouldn't even have noticed her pen if you hadn't mentioned it in the text. I don't think I've ever seen anyone hold a pen that way (or I don't pay attention enough.) 8y
Magpiegem I hold my pen that way but alas I'm not a writer, I'm just very dyslexic! 8y
See All 15 Comments
Readingrobin Love this insight.😀 8y
BookFreakOut I wonder if it reduces joint strain if they do a lot of writing by hand, I was at a signing for an author with a wrist injury and she had a special pen that looped over her finger. Probably ergonomic or something like that. 8y
audiothing Seems it's a method to improve cursive 8y
LeahBergen I have this book! 😉 8y
Meg11726 My other half writes like this as well. And he's not an author I can tell you (haha) 8y
MrBook @BookishFeminist You are just chock full of awesomeness 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻!!! I used to be part of a book club that met there once a month, so gorgeous! @Posemn 😂👍🏻! Now you're going to see it happen *every*where 😂👌🏻. @Magpiegem Ooh, maybe that's why! Maybe she is as well? Do you hold it thusly to offset your dyslexia? @Readingrobin 😁👍🏻!!! @BookFreakOut Oh, wow! Very thoughtful! I would be so incredibly upset if that happened to me 😔. 8y
MrBook @audiothing That may very well be it!!! Never thought of that, though I was taught the "proper" way to hold a pen *shrugs*. @LeahBergen *Of course* you have this book ?, we are #kindredspirits and #bibliodoppelgängers ???????!!! @Meg11726 Does he do so because he's dyslexic or wants to keep top-notch cursive going or did he ever break/sprain his wrist/arm/hand? 8y
audiothing @MrBook I found a site about handwriting, of course I can't find the link now 8y
Magpiegem @MrBook apparently the way I hold my pen has something to do with the type of dyslexia I have (it varies a lot) Basically both sides of my brain are equal, I have no strong side and also no strong writing side. It's hard to control the pen with either hand which leads to messy writing and a funny grip. It also causes me to have no visual memory (if I imagine something I can't see it) so I couldn't tell you what my kids look like & I get lost a lot 8y
Meg11726 @MrBook he has none of the above actually. Just sometimes holds his pen that way and other times he holds it different. I'm just going to chalk him up to be slightly odd at times 😉 8y
MrBook @audiothing Happens to me often 😂👏🏻👍🏻👌🏻! @Magpiegem Oh, that is interesting 🤔! @Meg11726 😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 👍🏻 8y
132 likes11 stack adds15 comments
review
Andrea313
Andrea313
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Pickpick

#recommendsday

Despite being a little "yay, American capitalism!" for my taste, this is one of the best books I've read all year. An intriguing account of Folger's obsessive quest to collect First Folios, I was hooked all the way through. Made me want to break into other pieces in my Shakespearean collection! #shakespeare #firstfolio #nonfictionlove

2 likes
review
Dogearedcopy
Dogearedcopy
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Pickpick

"Henry Folger's Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare's First Folio" (subtitle) seems like such a boring topic; but Andrea Mays' narrative NF is deeply engrossing and informative. I can't wait to head back to The Folger and see it with fresh eyes!

Chelsey What a great collection 9y
TheLondonBookworm Only boring of your not a Shakespeare obsessive ;) 9y
TheWellReadOwl Not boring at all! ❤️❤️ 9y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen I just bought this one and can't wait to read it. Have you read
[tagged book]The Shakespeare Thefts: In Search of the First Folios
8y
Dogearedcopy @LeahBergen No! I have not read 'The Shakespeare Thefts' and it looks *amazing*! It's going on my next "Buy List" (TY!) 8y
LeahBergen @Dogearedcopy It's really good! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Keep me posted when you read it. 😃 8y
Dogearedcopy @LeahBergen I just dnloaded 'The Shakespeare Thefts'; but it will probably be at least 10 days before I can get to it! 8y
31 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
Dogearedcopy
Dogearedcopy
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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I have hundreds of bookmarks, and would love to say that I search and use the one that's perfect for the book I'm reading; but the truth is that I use whatever is at hand, including post-it tabs, receipts, gift cards with 4 cents on them... #FunFridayPhoto

tagged users iconLiberty
29 likes
blurb
Dogearedcopy
Dogearedcopy
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Half-Way Status Update: Absolutely fascinating history of Shakespeare, printing, and Henry Folger... I've seen a First Folio at the Folger; but would love to see it again now that I know more. Good news: A First Folio is on tour! Bad news: I missed it when it was nearby 😞

23 likes1 stack add
blurb
Dogearedcopy
Dogearedcopy
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folgers Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeares First Folio | Andrea Mays
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Half a lifetime ago, I worked and played at The Shakespeare Co. when they were at The Folger; and yet I did not know the history of that theater! Just started; but already a couple of Aha! Moments 😊

MyBookLife Fun! Are you an actor? 9y
Dogearedcopy @MyBookLife No, I was a lighting technician, light board operator, and light designer. For Shakespeare Co., I was a lighting tech & follow spot operator 😊 9y
MrBook That's still good enough for me 😎. This book is on my TBR! Shakespeare is my prime reading joy. 9y
25 likes3 stack adds3 comments