It is to be hoped that at some point in the not-too-distant future the Library of Birmingham’s rare copy of the First Folio will pay a visit to Sutton Coldfield Library.
The First Folio, published in 1623, is the first printed collection of Shakespeare’s plays. Only 235 First Folios are known to exist.
That there is a copy at all in the possession of the Library of Birmingham is down to a number of devotees of Shakespeare who, on the tercentencary of his birthday in 1864, decided to create a library of all publications by, and relating to, him.
Other towns had dinners to celebrate the tercentenary; Birmingham had a dinner and opened a library.
It was the celebrated preacher George Dawson who led the efforts to establish the library. He was minister at the Church of the Saviour in Edward Street – a brightly decorated chapel which did not teach a particular regliious creed.
In his sermons Dawson urged his congregation to make Birmingham a place of improvement and culture. And so the First Folio was acquired for the newly-established Shakespeare Memorial Library.
Dawson was described as ‘the greatest talker in England.’ He gave lectures on literature and history across England and Scotland.
Such as his reputation that, on the occasions he came to speak in Sutton Coldfield, there wasn’t an empty seat in the town hall. In October 1865 Dawson gave a lecture on Elizabeth I (1558-1603).
Amongst those present was the diarist Sarah Holbeche, a member of a family of Sutton Solicitors. Dawson was a great admirer of Elizabeth I.
Sarah described his lecture as being ‘very clever and new – making the execution of Mary a necessity not a choice?’
Dawson returned to the town hall in December 1865. He came to read extracts from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery.
This time Sarah was not so impressed.
Her verdict was that his performance was ‘too coarse for his warmest admirers.
At the time of these talks, Dawson lived in Shenstone. One of the most popular and influential preachers and lecturers of his day, this profoundly interesting man clearly knew the quiet market town of Sutton well.
George Dawson & the Church of the Saviour by Stephen Roberts can be ordered from Amazon, price £3.99.
Associate Professor
Stephen Roberts