Ronald Brunlees McKerrow, FBA (12 December 1872 – 20 January 1940) was one of the leading bibliographers and Shakespeare scholars of the 20th century.[1]
He was educated at Harrow, at King's College, London, and at Trinity College, Cambridge.[4] He then taught English for three years in Tokyo (1897–1900), where he learnt Japanese. Following his return to London, he became a director of the publishing house Sidgwick and Jackson (1908).[5] He was awarded a D.Litt. by the University of Cambridge in 1911. In 1912 he became joint Honorary Secretary of the Bibliographical Society (with A. W. Pollard). The Society became the focus for much of his intellectual activity.
During the First World War he taught in the English Department at King's College, London (until 1919). He founded the Review of English Studies in 1925 and remained its editor until his death. He also edited the Bibliographical Society's journal The Library from 1934 to 1937.[5]
McKerrow received an honorary doctorate from Louvain University in 1927 and was the Sandars Reader in Bibliography at Cambridge University in 1928. The following year he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Bibliographical Society. In 1932 he became a fellow of the British Academy.[5]
His papers are preserved in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge.[6]
Workedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Ronald Brunlees McKerrow
McKerrow's work had three main focuses:
the textual study of early English Drama, especially the works of Thomas Nash and Shakespeare; he was one of the founder members of the Malone Society.
the history of the English book trade in the early-modern period; he made three substantial contributions in this field: Printers' and Publishers' Devices in England and Scotland, 1485–1640 (1913), Title-Page Borders used in England and Scotland, 1485–1640 (with F. S. Ferguson) (1932), and under his general editorship the volume for 1557–1640 in the Bibliographical Society's Dictionaries of the printers and booksellers who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland, 1557–1775 (1910).[1]
the theory and practice of historical and textual bibliography: firstly, his major edition of the works of Thomas Nash (1904); his An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students (1927) which remains a standard work (supplemented now by Philip Gaskell's New Introduction to Bibliography, 1972); and the Prolegomena for the Oxford Shakespeare (1939) which was intended to be the introduction for a full scientific critical edition of Shakespeare which was unfinished at his death.
With A. W. Pollard and W. W. Greg, R. B. McKerrow was one of the three great figures of English bibliography of the first half of the twentieth century.
In 'An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students', (1927), on the Long s question, McKerrow wrote: "Though it would be amusing to do so, there seems to be no reason to accept the legend that John Bell (publisher) initiated the change, (to the short 'S') in his edition of Shakespeare because of his dismay at the appearance of the long s in Ariel's song in The Tempest: i.e.: "Where the bee sucks, there suck I."
Selected publicationsedit
edition of Thomas Nash, The Works of Thomas Nashe. Edited from the original texts, London: A. H. Bullen, 1904
edition of Thomas Dekker, The gull's horn-book, London : De la More Press, 1904.
edition of Barnabe Barnes, The Divils Charter: a Tragædie conteining the Life and Death of Pope Alexander the sixt ..., Louvain, 1904.
A Dictionary of printers and booksellers in England, Scotland and Ireland, and of foreign printers of English books 1557–1640., London, 1910 (ed., for the Bibliographical Society); reprinted in Dictionaries of the printers and booksellers who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland, 1557–1775 (1977).
Printers' & Publishers' Devices in England & Scotland 1485–1640. London : Printed for the Bibliographical Society at the Chiswick Press, 1913. on-line digitised version
Title-page Borders used in England & Scotland, 1485–1640, London, 1932 (with F. S. Ferguson).
An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students, Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1927 (reprint, with an introduction by David McKitterick, Oak Knoll Press, 1995).
Prolegomena for the Oxford Shakespeare : a study in editorial method, Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1939.
Ronald Brunlees McKerrow : a Selection of his Essays, Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1974. (ed. John Phillip Immroth)
^David McKitterick, 'Introduction', in: An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students (1927, reprint 1994)
^ abW. W. Greg, 'McKerrow, Ronald Brunlees (1872–1940)', rev. John V. Richardson Jr., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2006 accessed 14 Sept 2009
^Kent, Allen; Lancour, Harold; Daily, Jay E. (1976). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Volume 17 - Malawi: Libraries in to Metropolitan Reference and Research Library Agency (METRO). CRC Press. p. 321. ISBN978-0-82472-017-9.
^"Mckerrow, Ronald Brunlees (MKRW894RB)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ abcG.B. Harrison, Review of English Studies, xvi, no. 63, July 1940, pp. 257–61.
ronald, brunlees, mckerrow, december, 1872, january, 1940, leading, bibliographers, shakespeare, scholars, 20th, century, contents, life, work, selected, publications, also, referenceslife, editr, mckerrow, born, putney, alexander, mckerrow, civil, engineer, m. Ronald Brunlees McKerrow FBA 12 December 1872 20 January 1940 was one of the leading bibliographers and Shakespeare scholars of the 20th century 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 Selected publications 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife editR B McKerrow was born in Putney son of Alexander McKerrow a civil engineer and Mary Jane Brunlees daughter of Sir James Brunlees a president of the Institution of Civil Engineers 2 His paternal grandfather was William McKerrow a noted cleric in the Presbyterian Church 3 He died in Picket Piece Wendover Buckinghamshire where he was buried 2 He was educated at Harrow at King s College London and at Trinity College Cambridge 4 He then taught English for three years in Tokyo 1897 1900 where he learnt Japanese Following his return to London he became a director of the publishing house Sidgwick and Jackson 1908 5 He was awarded a D Litt by the University of Cambridge in 1911 In 1912 he became joint Honorary Secretary of the Bibliographical Society with A W Pollard The Society became the focus for much of his intellectual activity During the First World War he taught in the English Department at King s College London until 1919 He founded the Review of English Studies in 1925 and remained its editor until his death He also edited the Bibliographical Society s journal The Library from 1934 to 1937 5 McKerrow received an honorary doctorate from Louvain University in 1927 and was the Sandars Reader in Bibliography at Cambridge University in 1928 The following year he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Bibliographical Society In 1932 he became a fellow of the British Academy 5 His papers are preserved in the Library of Trinity College Cambridge 6 Work edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Ronald Brunlees McKerrow McKerrow s work had three main focuses the textual study of early English Drama especially the works of Thomas Nash and Shakespeare he was one of the founder members of the Malone Society the history of the English book trade in the early modern period he made three substantial contributions in this field Printers and Publishers Devices in England and Scotland 1485 1640 1913 Title Page Borders used in England and Scotland 1485 1640 with F S Ferguson 1932 and under his general editorship the volume for 1557 1640 in the Bibliographical Society s Dictionaries of the printers and booksellers who were at work in England Scotland and Ireland 1557 1775 1910 1 the theory and practice of historical and textual bibliography firstly his major edition of the works of Thomas Nash 1904 his An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students 1927 which remains a standard work supplemented now by Philip Gaskell s New Introduction to Bibliography 1972 and the Prolegomena for the Oxford Shakespeare 1939 which was intended to be the introduction for a full scientific critical edition of Shakespeare which was unfinished at his death With A W Pollard and W W Greg R B McKerrow was one of the three great figures of English bibliography of the first half of the twentieth century In An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students 1927 on the Long s question McKerrow wrote Though it would be amusing to do so there seems to be no reason to accept the legend that John Bell publisher initiated the change to the short S in his edition of Shakespeare because of his dismay at the appearance of the long s in Ariel s song in The Tempest i e Where the bee sucks there suck I Selected publications editedition of Thomas Nash The Works of Thomas Nashe Edited from the original texts London A H Bullen 1904 edition of Thomas Dekker The gull s horn book London De la More Press 1904 edition of Barnabe Barnes The Divils Charter a Tragaedie conteining the Life and Death of Pope Alexander the sixt Louvain 1904 A Dictionary of printers and booksellers in England Scotland and Ireland and of foreign printers of English books 1557 1640 London 1910 ed for the Bibliographical Society reprinted in Dictionaries of the printers and booksellers who were at work in England Scotland and Ireland 1557 1775 1977 Printers amp Publishers Devices in England amp Scotland 1485 1640 London Printed for the Bibliographical Society at the Chiswick Press 1913 on line digitised version Title page Borders used in England amp Scotland 1485 1640 London 1932 with F S Ferguson An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students Oxford Clarendon Press 1927 reprint with an introduction by David McKitterick Oak Knoll Press 1995 Prolegomena for the Oxford Shakespeare a study in editorial method Oxford Clarendon Press 1939 Ronald Brunlees McKerrow a Selection of his Essays Metuchen N J Scarecrow Press 1974 ed John Phillip Immroth See also editBooks in the United KingdomReferences edit David McKitterick Introduction in An Introduction to Bibliography for Literary Students 1927 reprint 1994 a b W W Greg McKerrow Ronald Brunlees 1872 1940 rev John V Richardson Jr Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 online edn Oct 2006 accessed 14 Sept 2009 Kent Allen Lancour Harold Daily Jay E 1976 Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science Volume 17 Malawi Libraries in to Metropolitan Reference and Research Library Agency METRO CRC Press p 321 ISBN 978 0 82472 017 9 Mckerrow Ronald Brunlees MKRW894RB A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b c G B Harrison Review of English Studies xvi no 63 July 1940 pp 257 61 Cambridge University Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ronald Brunlees McKerrow amp oldid 1084250268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
