During the eighteenth century, editions and adaptations of Shakespeare proliferated, making him the most popular English dramatist. He exerted a profound influence on a variety of authors and on several other literary genres. Shakespeare in the Eighteenth Century explores the impact Shakespeare had on various aspects of society and culture.

Examines Shakespeare's influence and popularity in all aspects of eighteenth-century literature, culture and society.

"It is nonetheless the most comprehensive study available, including not only the scholarship mentioned above but also essays on eighteenth-century criticism and reviews of Shakespeare, Shakespearean forgeries, and Shakespeare in opera. Most impressive is that, besides occasional disagreements, this collection builds a remarkably consistent picture of Shakespeare's status and identity in the eighteenth century."
-Nicholas Hudson, Comptes Rendus