Shakespeare's First Folio, the first complete collection of his plays, was almost never printed. Its eventual publication went practically unnoticed, and many of the original 750 copies were gone before the turn of the eighteenth century. But a hundred years later the plays were rediscovered, beginning the long, surprising process that secured Shakespeare's legacy. Paul Collins follows this book's journey through the centuries, as it lies undiscovered for decades, burns, sinks, is bought and sold, and ultimately becomes untouchable.--Publisher description.

Act I : New Bond Street, London -- Barbican and Aldersgate, London -- St. Paul's Churchyard, London -- New Bond Street, London -- Act II : Hampstead Heath, London -- Catherine Street, London -- 17 Gough Square, London -- Staple Inn, High Holborn, London -- Act III : Charing Cross, London -- High Halden, Kent -- Kensal Green Cemetery, London -- Act IV : East Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. -- Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. -- Level C, Folger Shakespeare Library -- Act V : The Globe Theatre, Shin-Okubo, Shinjuku Ward -- Shinjuku Ward, Tokoyo -- Meisei University, Hino, Tokoyo -- Shinjuku Metro Promenade, Tokoyo.