{"product_id":"paperblanks-shakespeare-sir-thomas-more-midi-hardback-journal-plain-144-pages-pb2910-6","title":"Paperblanks Shakespeare, Sir Thomas More Midi Hardback Journal – Plain, 144 Pages","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCapture your ideas, plans and memories in this Shakespeare, Sir Thomas More midi hardback journal from Paperblanks, with 144 plain pages of 120 gsm acid-free paper.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith five distinct sets of handwriting seen in its revisions, the authorship of the 1595 play \u003cem\u003eSir Thomas More\u003c\/em\u003e has been hotly debated. Today, it is generally accepted that William Shakespeare was the playwright involved in crafting the portion reproduced on our cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Story Behind the Design\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWilliam Shakespeare (1564–1616), long considered the greatest of the English writers, left few traces of his handwriting. Because of this, Shakespeare’s possible contribution to the handwritten manuscript of the play \u003cem\u003eSir Thomas More\u003c\/em\u003e has been hotly debated over the centuries since it was written in 1595. Believed to have been scripted and revised by five different playwrights, the play was heavily censored and even banned when it was released and is believed to have never been performed during its time. However, in later years the scene depicting More quieting a riot has become quite notable for its possible connection to Shakespeare, leading to a resurgence of interest in the collaborative Elizabethan play.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSir Thomas More\u003c\/em\u003e tells the story of the life and death of More, a Catholic martyr. Originally only credited to Anthony Munday, the discovery of the original manuscript in the 1700s has led handwriting scholars to note the contribution of at least five distinct authors. With no other significant pieces of writing in Shakespeare’s own hand left behind, the process of connecting the great playwright to the work has been arduous and contested, at best. Evidence such as Shakespeare’s characteristic choices of spelling, turns of phrase and other stylistic elements has been studied and today it is generally accepted that the three pages written by “Hand D” did indeed come from Shakespeare himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn today’s geopolitical landscape it is especially interesting to note the contents of Shakespeare’s contribution, in which he mounts a passionate defence of refugees and displaced people. The first known performance of the play was in 1964 at the Nottingham Playhouse with the part of Thomas More originated by none other than Sir Ian McKellen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite the persistence of some dissenters, the play has been recognised as part of the Shakespearean canon since the mid-twentieth century and was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2005 with the actor Nigel Cooke playing the role of More. We are thrilled to be able to present this legendary dramatic piece, in the hand of one of the greatest writers of all time, as part of our Embellished Manuscripts Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal artwork:\u003c\/strong\u003e Manuscript for Sir Thomas More in William Shakespeare’s handwriting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1595\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e England\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Midi – 130 × 180 × 22 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 144 (72 sheets)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePaper:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120 gsm acid-free cream laid paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCover:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wrap closure with hidden magnets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smyth sewn – lies flat and stays durable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCorners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Square\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePouch:\u003c\/strong\u003e Memento pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesign:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shakespeare, Sir Thomas More\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeries:\u003c\/strong\u003e Embellished Manuscripts Collection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSatin ribbon marker\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e100% recycled binder boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorative printed cover paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEndpaper with credit and copyright information as well as historical background for the original artwork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThreaded stitching and glue, as needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAcid-free paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMemento pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 321 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduct code:\u003c\/strong\u003e PB2910-6 | \u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781439729106\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Paperblanks\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts. Every book is made to last, with binder boards crafted from 100% recycled materials, and the back endpaper tells the fascinating story behind the cover design and credits its creators.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paperblanks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54386180325704,"sku":"PB2910-6","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0920\/5114\/5032\/files\/9781439729106_FrontHighRes.png?v=1792779450","url":"https:\/\/shop.penandpaper.co.uk\/products\/paperblanks-shakespeare-sir-thomas-more-midi-hardback-journal-plain-144-pages-pb2910-6","provider":"The Pen and Paper Stationery Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}