Michael Drayton, Polyolbion, 1613 - title page.
Drayton: the other Warwickshire poet: a friend of Shakespeare.
Drayton's most well-known poem Polyolbion (1613) comprises thirty 'songs' which form a survey of England in verse couplets. Between 1597 ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes , 1603 - p. 558, Of Coaches..
Shakespeare's French contemporary writes on transport.
Montaigne's essays range widely over subjects, but in 'Of Coaches' the author describes his dislike of any boat, or vehicle transport, whether ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes done into English by John Florio..., 1603 - detail p.558.
Shakespeare’s contemporary in France.
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592) born in south-west France, was tutored at home, before studying medicine, and then law at university. He was responsible ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, 1603 - p. A4r detail.
Dedicatory verses to a noble patron of Shakespeare's contemporary.
Members of Queen Elizabeth's court, both men and women, as well as the Queen herself, enjoyed the work of poets and playwrights, offering ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, 1603 - binding front board
A binding contemporary with Shakespeare, with its owner's blind-stamp mark, dated 1603.
The plain leather boards of this volume are the original binding created for its first owner, whose personal ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, 1603 - 'Of Cannibals' p.100.
A source for Caliban in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
Florio’s translation of Montaigne was registered in 1600, and it is possible that Shakespeare saw a manuscript before the Essays were printed ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, 1603 - p. A2r.
An translator's dedication in a Shakespeare sourcebook.
In addition to the simpler statement of dedication John Florio wrote a fulsome dedicatory letter to the Countess of Bedford and her mother, Lady ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, 1603 - Sonnet to the Countess of Bedford,p. A4r.
Dedicatory verses to a noble patron of Shakespeare's contemporary.
As well as a dedicatory letter, John Florio’s translation of Montaigne's Essays also included dedicatory verses to his patron ...
Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, 1603 - title page
A French text translated by an associate of Shakespeare.
English born, John Florio, son of a protestant Italian refugee, was tutor to Lady Jane Grey, and later to Shakespeare’s patron Henry Wriothesley, ...
Moncrieff's Guide to Leamington Spa
Fourth edition of Moncrieff's Guide to Leamington Spa, published by J Merridew in 1829. The book contains 'The Ancient and Modern History of Leamington and the Adjacent Villages with an Analysis and Dissertation ...
Morning News Newspaper Cutting
A newspaper cutting from the Morning News, 14th July 1951. It describes Randolph Turpin's return to Leamington Spa as World Middle-Weight boxing champion. Randolph Turpin was born in Leamington Spa in ...
Natural History of English Insects
A hard backed book called A Natural History of English Insects which contains illustrations and descriptions of English insects. The illustrations are engravings hand-coloured by the author, 1749.
New Designs in Art Leatherwork
A paperback book, from Southport, with a grey cover and green printing, 1903. The book contains examples of leatherwork.
News Chronicle Newspaper Cutting
A newspaper cutting from the News Chronicle, 13 July 1951. It describes Randolph Turpin's return to Leamington Spa as World Middle-Weight boxing champion. Randolph Turpin was born in Leamington Spa in ...
Ovid, Metamorphosis, 1603 - Book III, p. 32v. 'Phoebe'.
Stories for references in Shakespeare.
Shakespeare's reading, and school memories of Ovid gave him not only references for stories that he could use, but names such as Phoebe, which occurs in the story ...
Ovid, Metamorphosis, 1603 - Book III, p. 33r, Hunting dogs'.
Shakespeare's source for Theseus praising his hounds in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Shakespeare drew on his memories of Ovid's story of Diana and Actaeon when Duke Theseus praises the barking ...
Ovid, Metamorphosis, 1603 - Book IV, p. 43v, 'Pyramus & Thisbe'..
Shakespeare’s source for the play of 'Pyramus and Thisbe'.
Nick Bottom, the weaver and leading actor amongst the Athenian craftsmen in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, knows little about ...
Ovid, Metamorphosis, 1603 - Book IV, p. 44r,'Thisbe flees the lioness'..
Stories for sources in Shakespeare.
The tale of the doomed lovers Pyramus and Thisbe was among those that Shakespeare remembered from Ovid, and used for A Midsummer Night’s Dream>, 1,2, lines ...