Shakespeare Memorial Souvenir of the Shakespeare Ball: 1616-1916

Whilst this sumptuous volume is loosely inspired by an idea of Shakespeare’s plays, what is paramount is its attractiveness, in a commemorative form quite different from the fine appearance of private press books. The volume recalls commemoration of the tercentenary of Shakespeare’s in 1916, the approach of which inspired a campaign to build a National Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Though the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, it briefly owned the ground in Bloomsbury upon which Senate House stands as a building plot. This souvenir commemorates a ball held in the Albert Hall in 1911 that raised over £10,000, equivalent to close to £1,000,000 today. Those present included members of the royal families of Europe, numerous aristocrats, and leading literary figures, including George Bernard Shaw and G. K. Chesterton, both of whom contributed essays to this volume. All guests dressed as a Shakespearean character, and many were photographed or commissioned portraits of themselves. Looking at these images today, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the attendees were thinking less of Shakespeare than of their own frivolity.