plays william_shakespeare plays william shakespeare 18th century edition dramatic works william_shakespeare edited johnson announced intention edit shakespeare plays miscellaneous observations proposal edition published edition finally published preface edition johnson trying determine original language plays benefit reading audience added explanatory notes passages later editors followed johnson lead sought determine authoritative text shakespeare background johnson began reading shakespeare plays poetry young boy involve closely plays terrified ghost hamlet people johnson fascination shakespeare continued life johnson focused time shakespeare plays preparing dictionary english language wonder shakespeare quoted author johnson came believe problem collections plays available lifetime believed lacked players supposed seldom understood transmitted equally multiplied errors mutilated actors sake shortening speeches printed correction press johnson friends actors performed shakespeare onstage believe performance vital plays acknowledge presence audience factor reception work instead johnson believed reader shakespeare true audience play furthermore johnson believed later editors misunderstood historical context shakespeare plays degree corruption plays exhibit believed style shakespeare obscure correct problems johnson believed original works need examined issue proposal johnson believed edition shakespeare provide income recognition needed edition shakespeare require publisher large commitment time money johnson decided begin focusing single play miscellaneous observations johnson began work provide sample thought achieved new edition shakespeare got information working catalogue catalogue collection works pamphlets owned 1st earl oxford published work commentary sir edition shakespeare plays miscellaneous observations miscellaneous observations tragedy april produced edition shakespeare plays october johnson felt attract attention work challenging points johnson criticised editing shakespeare words based opinion instead objective fact particular johnson writes appears find difficulty passages represented passed smoothly attempt alter explain harmless industry surely praised want use wonderful going burst let martial continues rest edition read little seen think dangerous declare opinion recommends accuracy distinction ancient reading innovations editor reason given alterations editions adopted difficulties removed hitherto embarrassed readers shakespeare miscellaneous observations contains johnson early thoughts theories shakespeare instance johnson thought power shakespeare supernatural scenes wrote shakespeare looks round alarmed starts find end work johnson announced produce new edition shakespeare proposals printing new edition plays william_shakespeare notes critical explanatory text corrected readings remarked editors examined supplied author miscellaneous observations tragedy response associates controlled copyright current edition shakespeare threatened sue johnson cave letter written april protect new edition edited shakespeare scholar proposal june johnson reprinted miscellaneous observations attached proposal proposals printing subscription william_shakespeare corrected illustrated june signed contract edit volume set shakespeare writings including preface june johnson printed proposal called proposal sold johnson future edition cost paid second printing johnson achieved scholarly renown dictionary english language publishers granted permission work shakespeare proposal johnson describes problems previous editions shakespeare argues new edition written correct problems particular johnson promised correct corrupt explain obscure accomplish relying careful oldest copies read story book shakespeare consulted unlike editors slight predecessors johnson claimed valuable adopted commentator consider including rest exhibiting hitherto known great father english drama later work promised ready december johnson contracted finish edition months months passed pace slowed told december following march complete happen february arrested unpaid debt debt soon contracted johnson publish work motivated johnson finish edition repay favour took seven years finish johnson completed volumes shakespeare prove commitment project johnson shakespeare johnson admitted love desire fame want money motive writing know money strong partly way avoid having finish shakespeare johnson began write weekly series ran april april johnson gained reputation slow worker contemporary poet teased johnson delay producing long promised edition shakespeare subscribers hook takes cash book comments soon johnson renewed work july received payment government pension pounds year longer worry money finally able time finishing work january day johnson introduced henry johnson noted diary corrected sheet began visiting friend writing essay learning shakespeare aid completely work time johnson added notes began revise work publication june johnson advertised edition published august unable work preface august printed september volunteered help johnson work preface time johnson edition shakespeare plays finally published october plays william shakespeare volumes added notes sam johnson printing copies edition sold quickly second edition soon printed expanded edition follow revised edition preface components shakespeare discussion shakespeare greatness especially portrayal human nature faults weakness shakespeare shakespeare plays relationship contemporary poetry drama history criticism editing work intends johnson begins praises reason dead honours excellence paid antiquity complaint likely continued able add truth hope forced disappointment willing hope present age refuses regard denied bestowed time antiquity like quality attracts notice mankind undoubtedly reverence reason prejudice admire long preserved considering time operated chance willing honour past present excellence mind genius shades age eye surveys sun artificial great contention criticism find faults living estimate powers worst performance dead rate best works excellence absolute definite gradual comparative works raised principles appealing wholly observation experience test applied length duration esteem mankind long possessed examined compared persist value possession frequent comparisons confirmed opinion favour works nature man properly river deep mountain high knowledge mountains rivers productions genius excellent till compared works kind demonstration immediately displays power hope fear years works tentative experimental estimated proportion general collective ability man discovered long succession building raised certainty determined round square referred time scale numbers discovered perfect poems homer know common limits human intelligence remarking nation nation century century able little incidents new characters sentiments reverence writings long arises confidence superior wisdom past ages mankind consequence acknowledged positions longest known considered considered best understood johnson introduces shakespeare poet works undertaken revision begin assume dignity ancient claim privilege established fame long century term commonly fixed test literature merit advantages derive personal allusions local customs temporary opinions years lost topic motive sorrow modes artificial life afforded obscure scenes illuminated effects favour competition end tradition friendships perished works support opinion arguments supply faction read reason desire pleasure praised pleasure obtained interest passion past variation taste changes manners generation received new honours transmission plays johnson proposal said text corrected careful oldest copies accordingly johnson attempted obtain early texts plays people unwilling lend editions fear destroyed offered johnson access collection shakespeare texts johnson declined offer believing expect treatment return johnson strength create set corresponding notes allow readers identify meaning shakespeare complicated passages ones incorrectly time included notes occasional attacks rival editors shakespeare works editions published edition shakespeare plays designed johnson proceeding sound text lacked benefit johnson critical notes worked create revised edition shakespeare plays volumes published additional provided work johnson contributing additional eighty notes critical response johnson forced producing edition shakespeare rival editor praised johnson miscellaneous observations critical notes given specimen projected edition written appears man parts genius years later important scholar friend johnson said johnson vigorous comprehensive understanding threw light predecessors preface finest composition language said preface piece criticism published country claimed johnson helped reader straight shakespeare meaning antiquarian commentators kill dark admitted soon falls habit meets obscure passage consulting johnson note wrote poet ask greatly honoured great johnson words shakespeare great honour biography johnson wrote edition shakespeare viewed historical understanding involved remarkable feat speaking great preface perspective remind johnson brought qualification like brought kind work single exception patience operating qualities extensive knowledge human nature life critic editor approached respect johnson biographers claimed better statement reason shakespeare needs edited aims editor reasonably set johnson proposal
The Plays of William Shakespeare