Sir Walter Wilson Greg

by Joseph Rosenblum

This book presents a selection of the writings of Sir Walter Wilson Greg (1875-1959), one of the leading bibliographers of the twentieth century and, along with R.B. McKerrow and A.W. Pollard, the founder of the New Bibliography that dominated twentieth-century textual studies. The articles and chapters included here begin with Greg's first major bibliographic triumph in 1908, when he elucidated the mystery of a collection of early seventeenth-century Shakespearean quartos. Applying the techniques of the New Bibliography, Greg revealed these texts to be the first attempt at a collected edition of Shakespeare, by a printer who lacked the authority to issue such an edition. Other selections trace Greg's contributions to bibliography and textual criticism throughout his half-century of work. Many of these selections are drawn from books now out of print. Rosenblum makes accessible these important but hard-to-find pieces. Taken together, these pieces illustrate not only Greg's monumental contributions, but also the approach to texts characteristic of twentieth-century bibliographers. The introductory essays trace Greg's life and accomplishments. The volume also includes a comprehensive bibliography of Greg's own writings. Students of the history of the book, of Shakespeare, of bibliography, and of library science will find this a valuable resource.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 1998