Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - May - 2008 Issue

Books About Books and Bookmen (Good and Bad) from Oak Knoll

Shakespearean "author" and forger William Ireland.

Shakespearean "author" and forger William Ireland.



As long as we're on a roll, here is one more notorious bookman. Item 105 is the Confessions of William Henry Ireland, Containing the Particulars of His Fabrication of the Shakespeare Manuscripts... Ireland's father was a Shakespeare collector, and somewhere along the way, he discovered he could fool his father with his forgeries. From minor documents and signatures, Ireland worked his way up to manuscripts and plays annotated in the Bard's "hand," and finally, he created an entire new and unknown "Shakespeare" play. It was the sensation of England, and was actually staged for one performance, but evidently it did not live up to the quality of Shakespeare's other works. After all, there was only one Shakespeare. His Shakespearean find was challenged, and in time, the evidence became overwhelming. Ireland finally confessed, perhaps to save his father from questions as to whether he was complicit in the forgery. Published in 1805. $450.

We don't usually find children's books in an Oak Knoll catalogue, but every once in awhile you can be in for a surprise. Item 227 is a 1959 first edition of Kay Thompson's Eloise in Moscow. The youngster is out to make life interesting for the Communists at the height of the Cold War. As usual, Hilary Knight provides her captivating illustrations. $450.

You may visit Oak Knoll Books online at www.oakknoll.com, or contact them at 800-996-2556 or orders@oakknoll.com.

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