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Chapter 7 - Shakespeare and the Survival of Middle England

Weekly Journals, 1914–1918

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2023

By
Stuart Sillars
Edited by
Amy Lidster  and
Sonia Massai
Amy Lidster
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
Sonia Massai
Affiliation:
King's College London
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Summary

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the journal The Sphere published a two-page spread showing the ‘Shakespeare Cliff’ with the well-known ‘This England’ speech from Shakespeare’s Richard II, alongside other images connecting England to Shakespeare’s work. Related to the image are many writings of the First World War, including editions of the plays, the life of Shakespeare, Shakespeare and warfare, the Tercentenary of his birth, and the relation between Shakespeare and German literature. An article in the popular John O’London’s Weekly argued that Shakespeare had been a soldier, and suggested that Englishmen should follow his example and fight for their country.

Keywords

The SphereRichard II‘This England’TercentenaryHeineStandards testDreadnaughtsJohn o’London’s Weeklyconscription
Type
Chapter
Information
Shakespeare at War
A Material History
 , pp. 71 - 80
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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