The son of a baker, he was born in London. He was articled to a solicitor, and eventually set up as a conveyancer at Staple Inn, where he had a large practice.
His major work was the Biographia dramatica (2 vols., 1782), a set of biographies of dramatists and a descriptive dictionary of their plays. This book, which was an enlargement of David Erskine Baker's Companion to the Playhouse (2 vols., 1764), was re-edited (3 vols.) by Stephen Jones in 1811. The original work by Baker had been based on Gerard Langbaine's Account of the English Dramatick Poets (1691), Giles Jacob's Poetical Register (1719), Thomas Whincop's List of all the Dramatic Authors (printed with his tragedy of Scanderbeg, 1747) and the manuscripts of Thomas Coxeter. Reed's Notitia dramatica (British Library, Add MSS 25390–25392), supplementary to the Biographia, was never published.
He also revised Robert Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays (12 vols., 1780); and re-edited Samuel Johnson and George Steevens's edition (1773) of Shakespeare. Reed's edition was published in ten volumes (1785), and he gave great assistance to Steevens in his edition (1793). He was Steevens's literary executor, and in 1803 published another edition (21 vols.) based on Steevens's later collections. This, which is known as the first variorum, was re-issued ten years later.[1]
Reed directed the European Magazine as a proprietor and editor, from 1782 for the duration of his life.[2][3] After his death, his library of theatrical literature was catalogued for sale as Bibliotheca Reediana (1807).
In 2016, it was announced that a ShakespeareFirst Folio had been discovered in the library of Mount Stuart House.[4] The book was identified as a working copy once owned by Reed, who had bought it in 1786.[5]
References
^Michael Dobson and Stanley Wells: The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. OUP 2001. pg. 370.
^de Montluzin, Emily Lorraine. "Attributions of Authorship in the European Magazine, 1782–1826". University of Virginia.
^Sherbo, Arthur (1984). "Isaac Reed and the European Magazine". Studies in Bibliography. 37: 210–227.
^Coughlan, Sean (7 April 2016). "Shakespeare First Folio discovered on Scottish island". BBC News. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
^"New Shakespeare First Folio discovered 400 years after his death | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
Bibliography
John NicholsLiterary Anecdotes of the 18th Century (vol. ii., 1812);
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Reed, Isaac". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
External links
Wikisource has original works by or about: Isaac Reed
March 03, 2023
isaac, reed, january, 1742, january, 1807, english, shakespearean, editor, american, politician, politician, contents, biography, references, bibliography, attribution, external, linksbiography, editthe, baker, born, london, articled, solicitor, eventually, co. Isaac Reed 1 January 1742 5 January 1807 was an English Shakespearean editor Isaac Reed For the American politician see Isaac Reed politician Contents 1 Biography 2 References 2 1 Bibliography 2 2 Attribution 3 External linksBiography EditThe son of a baker he was born in London He was articled to a solicitor and eventually set up as a conveyancer at Staple Inn where he had a large practice His major work was the Biographia dramatica 2 vols 1782 a set of biographies of dramatists and a descriptive dictionary of their plays This book which was an enlargement of David Erskine Baker s Companion to the Playhouse 2 vols 1764 was re edited 3 vols by Stephen Jones in 1811 The original work by Baker had been based on Gerard Langbaine s Account of the English Dramatick Poets 1691 Giles Jacob s Poetical Register 1719 Thomas Whincop s List of all the Dramatic Authors printed with his tragedy of Scanderbeg 1747 and the manuscripts of Thomas Coxeter Reed s Notitia dramatica British Library Add MSS 25390 25392 supplementary to the Biographia was never published He also revised Robert Dodsley s Collection of Old Plays 12 vols 1780 and re edited Samuel Johnson and George Steevens s edition 1773 of Shakespeare Reed s edition was published in ten volumes 1785 and he gave great assistance to Steevens in his edition 1793 He was Steevens s literary executor and in 1803 published another edition 21 vols based on Steevens s later collections This which is known as the first variorum was re issued ten years later 1 Reed directed the European Magazine as a proprietor and editor from 1782 for the duration of his life 2 3 After his death his library of theatrical literature was catalogued for sale as Bibliotheca Reediana 1807 In 2016 it was announced that a Shakespeare First Folio had been discovered in the library of Mount Stuart House 4 The book was identified as a working copy once owned by Reed who had bought it in 1786 5 References Edit Michael Dobson and Stanley Wells The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare OUP 2001 pg 370 de Montluzin Emily Lorraine Attributions of Authorship in the European Magazine 1782 1826 University of Virginia Sherbo Arthur 1984 Isaac Reed and the European Magazine Studies in Bibliography 37 210 227 Coughlan Sean 7 April 2016 Shakespeare First Folio discovered on Scottish island BBC News Retrieved 14 April 2016 New Shakespeare First Folio discovered 400 years after his death University of Oxford www ox ac uk Retrieved 2018 04 04 Bibliography Edit John Nichols Literary Anecdotes of the 18th Century vol ii 1812 Edward Dowden Essays Modern and Elizabethan Attribution Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Reed Isaac Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press External links Edit Wikisource has original works by or about Isaac Reed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isaac Reed amp oldid 1101393630, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
