In October, the BPL will be partnering with Commonwealth Shakespeare, opens a new window to perform famous Shakespearean scenes across the Central Library. But Shakespeare at the BPL doesn't have to start—or stop—there. There are so many ways to interact with the Bard through the Boston Public Library!

Explore Our Special Collections

The Boston Public Library holds the Barton Collection, opens a new window, the first major American collection of rare early editions of Shakespeare's works. With over 14,000 items, it is one of the ten largest collections of its kind in the world. In addition to rare quartos and folios, it includes literary criticism, source material, and an incredible collection of early editions of plays by Shakespeare’s predecessors and contemporaries.

Like all of the BPL's holdings, the Barton Collection is entirely open to the public. You can view Collection items in person by appointment in the BPL Special Collections reading room, opens a new window. If you can't come into the library, parts of our Shakespeare collections have been digitized online on the Internet Archive, opens a new window and Digital Commonwealth, opens a new window.

Watch a Performance

You can enjoy performances of the Royal Shakespeare Company Collection, opens a new window with your library card! RSC is one of the best Shakespeare theater companies in the world. Featured actors include David Tennant, Sir Antony Sher, and Paapa Essiedu. Whether you want to laugh along to The Comedy of Errors or cry while watching King Lear, you can take it all in right from the comfort of a couch.

More in the mood for movie adaptations or a topical documentary? Shakespeare on Kanopy, opens a new window has you covered. Titles include well-known adaptations like She's the Man, opens a new window and West Side Story, opens a new window, documentaries like Muse of Fire, opens a new window and the How to Read and Understand Shakespeare, opens a new window series, and hidden gems like Aloevera, opens a new window (a Ghanaian Romeo & Juliet). And not to be outdone, Kanopy also has select live performances, like Sir Patrick Stewart's Macbeth, opens a new window.

Read a Play or Poem, opens a new window

New Oxford Shakespeare, opens a new window makes reading Shakespeare's works convenient for students, teachers, general users, and researchers. The Modern Critical Edition, opens a new window presents the work with present-day spelling and grammar to make it easier to understand. On-page, interactive notes explain any obscure words, historical references, and changes in meaning. The Critical Reference Editions Volume 1, opens a new window and Volume 2, opens a new window and Authorship Companion, opens a new window showcase the original spelling for literary and bibliographic research. It also links from the original works to annotations and articles from Shakespearean scholars.

Browse a Database

Diving into a database is a great way to expand your knowledge and support your own research. We have several related databases, including:

• Gale Literature Criticism, opens a new window: Discover in-depth analysis of Shakespeare's works. You can explore dozens of curated topic pages, opens a new window, from Ghosts in Shakespeare's Works, opens a new window to Shakespeare and Marxist Theory, opens a new window.
• Credo Reference, opens a new window: Find background information from a variety of encyclopedias, thesauruses, and more. Since Credo offers a "mind map" feature to browse related terms, it's especially good for students and people trying to get a general sense of Shakespeare.                

  

• JSTOR, opens a new window: The go-to database for academic articles. There are several Shakespeare-related academic journals that you can search directly in, including:                       
  • Shakespeare Quarterly, opens a new window
  • Shakespeare Bulletin, opens a new window
  • Early Theater, opens a new window
  • English Literary Renaissance, opens a new window
  • Medieval & Renaissance Drama in England, opens a new window
  • Renaissance Studies, opens a new window
  • Renaissance Quarterly, opens a new window
  • Renaissance Drama, opens a new window
• OmniFile Full Text Select, opens a new window: Find citations and full-text academic articles that help fill gaps in JSTOR's coverage.

Check Out a Book

Of course, there are plenty of physical editions of Shakespeare's works that you can borrow from the library, but that's just the beginning. You can even check out graphic novel and manga adaptations, opens a new window. And for researchers who want to go deeper, our collections include thousands of academic books analyzing Shakespeare's time, works, life, and lasting impact.