Picture this: you're deep into a story where Shakespeare's 1623 First Folio— one of the world's most coveted books—becomes prey for thieves, fraudsters, and obsessive collectors. Eric Rasmussen, a top Shakespeare scholar, didn't just catalog these treasures; he chased them across the globe, dodging tattooed Tokyo gangs and sparring with secretive librarians. His book, The Shakespeare Thefts, turns this quest into a page-turner packed with wild anecdotes that feel straight out of a crime novel.
Back in 1902, experts tracked 160 First Folios. Fast-forward, and 14 had been swiped, with just two recovered. These aren't ordinary books; they're goldmines for criminals because of their insane value and historical weight—they hold nearly all of Shakespeare's plays in their original form. Rasmussen digs into the drama: folios censored with ripped pages, one splattered in red paint (blood?), another with a bullet embedded inside. Then there's the Earl of Pembroke, Shakespeare's possible lover, whose dedicated copy is still MIA.
Rasmussen's adventures are gold. He rubs shoulders with reclusive billionaires hoarding these gems and uncovers how a wealthy East Coast couple drowns in a boating mishap, only for their folio to pop up for sale in Kansas the next week. It's not dry scholarship—it's gritty detective work with high stakes, from intense standoffs to uncanny coincidences that make you question everything.
Whether you're a Shakespeare buff pondering the Bard's secrets, a true crime fan loving literary twists, or just someone who devours quirky history, this Kindle edition delivers non-stop fascination. Curl up on a rainy afternoon and let Rasmussen's escapades transport you— you'll finish wondering which folio might vanish next. Critics rave: Stephen Greenblatt calls it full of 'wonderful anecdotes,' while The Wall Street Journal dubs it an 'enjoyable literary detective story.' Grab it now and join the hunt.
