J. Leslie Hotson — Shakespeare Verses Shallow

London, The Nonesuch Press, 1931. First edition. Cloth. A first edition of a fascinating exploration into the influences behind the themes and characters in Shakespeare's plays by scholar Leslie Hotson. This volume is a first edition. Bound in the publisher's original blue cloth. With eight illustrated plates consisting of portraits, facsimiles, folded genealogical tables, coats of arms, and a frontispiece depicting the Communion Cup of the church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey. Collated, complete. This volume explores Shakespeare's early life and acquaintances, from reputable scholar of Elizabethan literary puzzles, Leslie Hotson, investigating the possibility that William Shakespeare's life was influenced by his connections to the Shallow family. Hotson posits that Shakespeare could have used Justice Shallow's character, and potentially others from the Shallow family, as inspiration for the characters in his plays. Hotson is known for his fastidious archival research on Shakespeare's early years. He has also reconstructed the shape of the original Shakespearean theater, and produced evidence of Shakespeare's father as a wool dealer. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, very smart. Slight fading to spine and the odd handling mark, with minor bumping to the extremities. Offsetting to endpapers. Internally, firmly bound. Slight spotting, heavier to the fore edge and first few leaves. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None Stated. Very Good Indeed .