Infinite Variety: Exploring the Folger Shakespeare Library

This lively book surveys the history, buildings, collections, and activities of the 70-year-old Folger Shakespeare Library. Built to house Henry and Emily Folgerís collection of Shakespeareana (still the worldís largest), the Folger has become a world-class resource for materials on European culture from 1500 to 1750. Among other topics, Infinite Variety celebrates the breadth of the Folgerís interests with color photographs and stories of several dozen items -- a First Folio of Shakespeare; Elizabeth Iís own Bishopsí Bible; a housewifeís recipe book, hand-written about 1610; paintings by Hilliard and Fuseli; early maps, music, and scientific works; theatrical memorabilia of Edwin Booth, Laurence Olivier, and Paul Robeson; and more.