Episode 170: Printers, Plague and Poets

The History of English Podcast

In this episode, we examine the connection between poetry and plague in the early 1590s. An outbreak of the recurring sickness contributed to Shakespeare’s early career as a poet, and that poetry likely included his many sonnets. We also examine how an old acquaintance from Shakespeare’s hometown emerged as one of the leading printers in London and how his print shop influenced the development of English during the Elizabethan period. Works discussed in this episode include:
‘Defensative Against Plague’
‘Venus and Adonis’ – William Shakespeare
‘Rape of Lucrece’ – William Shakespeare
‘Orlando Furioso’
‘The Art of English Poesy’ – George Puttenham
William Shakespeare’s Sonnets

TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 170