The Works Of William Shakespeare

Edited With A Scrupulous Revision Of The Text By Charles And Mary Cowden Clarke

Published by Bickers & Son: London 1883

Back Cover Detached

"The Works of William Shakespeare (1883), edited by Charles and Mary Cowden Clarke and published by Bickers & Son, London, represents one of the most meticulous and scholarly Victorian editions of Shakespeare's complete works. The Cowden Clarkes—renowned literary collaborators and early Shakespearean educators—undertook a "scrupulous revision of the text", striving to balance textual fidelity with accessibility for the general reader. Drawing from the First Folio and early quartos, they corrected errors introduced by earlier editors while preserving the richness of Elizabethan language. Their editorial philosophy sought to present Shakespeare's plays and poems with clarity, precision, and an appreciation for dramatic rhythm and meaning, supported by careful punctuation and thoughtful commentary. This edition reflects the Victorian reverence for Shakespeare as a moral and cultural authority, combining scholarly rigor with an educational purpose. The Cowden Clarkes' prefaces and annotations illuminate character development, thematic depth, and linguistic nuance, making the plays approachable without diminishing their poetic grandeur. The 1883 Bickers & Son publication is thus both a product of its age—uniting literary devotion with moral earnestness—and a lasting contribution to the transmission of Shakespeare's text. It remains valued not only for its editorial care but also for its association with two of the nineteenth century's most respected interpreters of the Bard."

Back cover detached. Covers and spine have retained a bright appearance and present very well. Inside hinges are split. Pages typically clean with some very light foxing present to some pages. Page binding is solid with no loose pages. Good to very good condition if not for detached back cover. Please study photos to further understand condition.