Ploughshares is a hell-of-a-good literary review (one that we have both print and online versions). Recently on the Ploughshares Blog Rebecca Makkai wrote about “Five Books I’d Rescue from the Fire.” The essay is about books Ms. Makkai thinks irreplaceable, essential, can’t-do-withoutable (her’s is an interesting list). This of course prompts for any reader the question “Which books would you save from the fire?” Impossible, to be sure, but what came first to mind was Shakespeare. The poetry that is a line in Shakespeare, the poetry that is remembering Shakespeare. A volume of Shakespeare to save from the fire is one born here in Canton…Caliban Press’ version of the Tempest, a detailed description of the test anon–
Caliban Press announces the publication of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Designed, printed, and bound by Mark McMurray. This edition was inspired by a variety of sources including Shakespeare’s First Folio;
Bread & Puppet Theater of Glover, Vermont; John Coltrane’s Olé; the film Black Orpheus; and of course Prospero’s library.
Text
The text for this edition is taken chiefly from the First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s works published in 1623. Spelling has been modernized except for the eight songs within the play that retain the original spelling. Some of the First Folio type setting practices are retained such as the use, when needed, of the ampersand (&) for “and” as well as some lineation devices. Textual advisor: Thomas L. Berger, co-editor of a new variorum edition of Henry V for the Modern Language Association and editor of facsimiles of Shakespearean quartos for the Malone Society.
Type
The text has been set in 14 point Dante by compositors “B” Michael and Winifred Bixler, Skaneateles, New York. Dante was designed by Giovanni Marderstaag and first released in 1954. Marderstaag himself published an edition of The Tempest in 1924 under the Officinia Bodoni imprint.
Paper
Printed on seven handmade & mould made papers: handmade abaca & daylily by Velma Bolyard, Wake Robin Papers, Canton, New York; machine made & handmade papers by David Carruthers and Denise Lapointe, La Papeterie St-Armand, Montreal, vatman Dave Dorrance; handmade Barcham-Green “Charles I” and “Dover”; mould made Arjomari Arches text wove and Zerkall Frankfurt cream. Additional papers include Mexican amate and others.
Images
The images in this edition are from a variety of found and historical sources including relief prints, collage, pochoir, and a volvelle. There is also a linocut by wood engraver Greg Lago, Clayton, New York.
Edition
125 copies letterpress printed & bound in handmade paper covers and purple morocco spine. Housed in a handmade paper portfolio. 32 cm., 119 pages.
Caliban Press is an enterprise run by our Curator of Special Collections & University Archivist, Mark McMurray. A beautiful home grown book gardened right here in Canton, Shakespeare in Canton…