A Hand-Book Index to the Works of Shakespeare: Including References to the Phrases, Manners, Customs, Proverbs, Songs, Particles, etc., which Are Used or Alluded to by the Great Dramatist

Published in 1866, this is a meticulous, encyclopaedic listing of almost every word, place and character in Shakespeare’s works. A must-have for every student of English literature, it is also an unparalleled guide for those left in the dark by Shakespearean English. James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-1889), a renowned scholar, antiquarian, and collector of books on Shakespeare, provided entries for even the manners, customs and proverbs of the Bard’s time. Despite the author’s disclaimer about some of the ‘hastily’ prepared entries, the Index remains a monumental scholarly feat of the late nineteenth century. Halliwell not only cross-referenced every entry with the play it appeared in, but also included a list of actors who originally performed in the plays, together with locations and plot sources. With over 5000 annotated references, A Shakespeare Index is still one of the most practical and instructive guides to understanding Shakespearean English.