Shakespeare - Songs from Shakespeare - 1886

William Shakespeare
Songs from Shakespeare : illustrated
Cassel & Co., London, 1886

45 pages : illustrations, music ; 20 cm

Songs from Shakespeare: Illustrated is a finely produced Victorian volume celebrating the lyrical songs scattered throughout Shakespeare’s plays. Rather than presenting complete dramas, the book gathers Shakespeare’s musical verses—songs intended for performance within the plays—as well as short poems notable for their melody, emotional immediacy, and evocative imagery. Many of these songs originally appeared in comedies and romances such as Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Tempest, and Cymbeline, where music played an essential role in shaping mood and character on the Elizabethan stage.

The illustrations are a central attraction and reflect the late Victorian fascination with Shakespeare as both a national literary figure and a source of visual inspiration. Executed in a refined late-19th-century style, the artwork emphasizes elegance, atmosphere, and decorative richness. Figures are delicately rendered with idealized features, flowing costumes, and expressive poses that echo the emotional tone of each song. Ornamental borders, elaborate initial letters, and carefully structured page layouts demonstrate the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement and the high standards of contemporary book design. These visual elements do not merely decorate the text but actively interpret it, enhancing the romantic, pastoral, and occasionally melancholy qualities of the poems.

Songs from Shakespeare: Illustrated was intended for a cultured Victorian readership that valued literature, art, and craftsmanship. Its emphasis on beauty and refinement reflects the period’s reverence for Shakespeare as a moral and aesthetic authority, as well as a desire to make his works accessible in elegant, standalone formats suitable for private reading rather than theatrical performance alone.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616), England’s most celebrated playwright and poet, wrote works that shaped the course of English literature. His plays encompass comedy, tragedy, history, and romance, while his songs—though often brief—reveal a remarkable command of rhythm, sound, and emotional nuance. This volume highlights that lyrical gift, presenting Shakespeare not only as a dramatist but as a poet whose words were meant to be heard, sung, and visually admired, uniting text and image in a distinctly Victorian homage to his enduring legacy.

Solid hardcover binding, hazel cloth with red title on spine, gilt title on front cover + decorations. Dedication note to ffep (Christmas 1887). Corners slightly rounded; minimal shelf wear. Overall pages bright and text clear.

PS: I'll ship the book carefully packaged in bubble wrap, via An Post, the Irish Postal Service ("Registered Post, Tracking & Insurance included to protect your valuable items"). I will provide the tracking number once dispatched.