Following the worldwide success of Shakespeare: The Complete Works with Sir John Gilbert’s magisterial engravings, The Collector's Library has commissioned Britain’s leading colourist, Barbara Frith, to prepare colour versions of these great images. The result is a book of unparalleled style and beauty, which will win the hearts of Shakespearians everywhere as well as appealing to lovers of fine literature and fine books. Each book will be presented in a handsome and enduring cloth covered slip-case, with Shakespeare’s coat-of-arms inset in colour. Sir John Gilbert was the first major figure, alongside Bewick’s pupil William Harvey, to emerge in the revival of 19th century wood engraving. He was the first serious artist to tackle news, illustrating for The Illustrated London News from 1843 for the rest of his life. But his chief fame remains his depictions of historical scenes; as well as Shakespeare, he illustrated works of Sir Walter Scott, Cervantes, Wilkie Collins and Wordsworth. Barbara Frith is one of Britain’s leading colourists, and her work has been acclaimed by Jane Austen’s House and Museum at Chawton, The Jane Austen Centre at Bath, and by antiquarian book and map dealers on both sides of the Atlantic.