The exploration of the "Pavier Quartos," a series of quarto pamphlets aimed at compiling Shakespeare's works before the First Folio, uncovers their intriguing complexities. Zachary Lesser analyzes over three hundred surviving copies, shedding light on their enigmatic nature and the historical context surrounding their creation. This investigation reveals the significance of these early publications in understanding Shakespeare's literary legacy and the printing practices of the time.
In 1823, Sir Henry Bunbury found a poorly bound volume of twelve Shakespeare plays in his manor, featuring nearly all first editions. Among them was a remarkable text of Hamlet, previously unknown and predating all other versions. This discovery prompted a reevaluation of the play, revealing a radically different portrayal of characters, plot, and poetry. Known as Q1, this text has been labeled variously as a rough draft, shorthand piracy, memorial reconstruction, and even a pre-Shakespearean "ur-Hamlet." It exists between two historical moments: its initial publication in the early seventeenth century and its rediscovery in the early nineteenth. As the first and last Hamlet, Q1's reception has been shaped by its uncanny temporal oscillation, influencing interpretations of the play in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Zachary Lesser explores how the unexpected discovery of Q1 challenges established notions about Shakespeare as an author and the nature of his texts. By recounting the story of this enigmatic quarto and the ensuing debates in newspapers, theaters, and scholarly journals, Lesser provides fresh insights into our understanding of Hamlet.
