This isn't a novel or a biography. Think of it as a time capsule. David Nichol Smith gathered the most important essays, prefaces, and criticisms written about Shakespeare in the 1700s. This was the century that really decided Shakespeare's fate. Before then, his plays were just popular entertainment. After the Restoration, people started taking them seriously as literature, but they had a lot of problems with them.

The Story

There isn't a plot, but there is a clear narrative arc. You start with critics like Thomas Rymer, who famously trashed 'Othello' as a ridiculous story about a handkerchief. Then you move to editors and adapters like Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson. They loved Shakespeare's genius but were embarrassed by what they saw as his rough edges. They tried to 'fix' his plays, cutting out the puns and the so-called vulgar jokes. The book shows the slow shift from this attitude to one of deeper appreciation. You see writers like Samuel Taylor Coleridge starting to argue that Shakespeare's 'flaws' were actually part of his unique power. By the end of the century, the foundation for his modern reputation is firmly in place.

Why You Should Read It

This book makes Shakespeare feel human again. Reading these essays, you realize his greatness wasn't obvious. It had to be argued for, defended, and explained. It's incredibly refreshing. When you see a critic complain that the ghost in 'Hamlet' breaks the rules of good drama, you're forced to think: 'Wait, why *is* that scene so powerful?' It makes you engage with the plays on a much deeper level. You also get a front-row seat to the birth of modern literary criticism. These writers were figuring out how to talk about plays as art, and their debates shaped everything that came after.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for serious Shakespeare fans who want to move beyond plot summaries and into the history of why we love his work. It's also perfect for anyone interested in the history of ideas or how cultural icons are made. It's not a light beach read, but it's surprisingly lively and full of strong opinions. If you've ever thought Shakespeare was boring because he's treated like a monument, this book is the perfect antidote. It shows the fiery debates that turned him into one.