Richard Stonley’s diary: first recorded purchase of Venus and Adonis 1

The Shakespeare Documents.

Richard Stonley’s diary: first recorded purchase of Venus and Adonis, Shakespeare’s first printed work.

Entry recording purchase of Venus and Adonis “per” Shakespeare, in the diary of Richard Stonley, 12 June 1593. V.a.460, leaves 9 verso and 10 recto.

The Shakespeare Documents provide a documentary trail of the life of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and key archival sources for understanding the English author’s life. These unique handwritten documents, dating from within Shakespeare’s lifetime, name him and provide an evidential basis for understanding the narrative of his life and how this inspired and influenced his creative works. They provide glimpses into Shakespeare’s personal life, his birth, death, family affairs, property and business dealings, as well as his context within a period of history that saw major changes in cultural, religious and socio-political society.