Shakespeare’s Libraries

Shakespearse's Libaries

Much has been written about ‘Shakespeare’s books,’ and the notes in critical editions attest to the enormous spectrum and continued interest in possible sources. But what counts as a source? Digitisation and the use of AI in literary studies as well as transcultural and anthropological approaches to Shakespeare have opened new chapters in this debate. Current developments ask us to reflect critically on conceptions of authorship and authenticity in Shakespeare studies, on the role of orature as a source as well as the historical prioritisation of particular kinds of ‘sources’ that reflect on our understanding of Shakespeare’s libraries and, indeed, Shakespeare’s role in world literature, then and now.

Shakespeare Seminar is a free annual online journal. It documents papers presented at the Shakespeare Seminar panel of the spring conferences of the Deutsche Shakespeare-Gesellschaft. It is intended as a publication platform especially for the younger generation of scholars. For the current Call for Papers, please see our website: www.shakespeare-gesellschaft.de