Thomas Thorpe
Thomas Thorpe was born in 1569 to an innkeeper father in Barnet, Middlesex. He spent nine years working as an apprentice under Richard Watkins in a small shop. This training period ended when he obtained his publishing rights in 1594. Despite holding these rights, he did not yet possess printing rights or own a physical print shop. His first published book appeared shortly after this milestone and carried the title The First Book of Lucan. Christopher Marlowe had translated this work from the Pharsalia, and Edward Blount held its copyright. Thorpe received the copyright from Blout and returned the favor by dedicating the volume to him. Such dedication practices were unorthodox for that era since publications usually honored noblemen or royalty.
In 1609 Thomas Thorpe released Shakespeare's Sonnets without clear evidence of the poet's permission. Nineteenth-century critics labeled him predatory and irresponsible for this act. Sidney Lee specifically called him "predatory and irresponsible" regarding the publication. Modern scholars Wells and Taylor argue differently stating "Thorpe was a reputable publisher." They claim there is nothing intrinsically irregular about his actions. Katherine Duncan-Jones suggests he was not such a scoundrel as previously portrayed. Some historians believe Shakespeare may have sold his manuscript directly to Thorpe. Jonson served as an actor in Sejanus and might have recommended Thorpe to the poet. This connection could explain how the manuscript reached Thorpe despite the lack of explicit consent records.
Ben Jonson published multiple works through Thomas Thorpe starting in 1605. The play Sejanus His Fall appeared that year alongside George Chapman's All Fools. Edward Blount provided the copyright for Sejanus to Thorpe. Critic Jonas Barish noted specific details suggesting Jonson oversaw the printing himself. He pointed out the exactness of marginal annotations and typography conveying metrical intentions. Corrections made during proofreading also implied direct authorial involvement. Jonson continued working with Thorpe on Hymenaei in 1606 and Volpone in 1607. The Masque of Blackness and The Masque of Beauty followed in 1608. These collaborations demonstrate a sustained professional relationship between playwright and publisher beyond mere transactional exchanges.
The dedication page of the 1609 sonnets addresses a mysterious figure known as Mr. W.H. Scholars debate whether Shakespeare or Thorpe wrote this specific address. One possibility suggests the manuscript came from a needy MR. W. H. who served as both dedicatee and recipient. Critics have rarely explored this connection between the man named in the text and the poems themselves. Thorpe likely arranged the internal order of the collection himself. Sections one through seventeen function as procreation sonnets while eighteen through 126 focus on love for the Fair Youth. Numbers 127 to 154 cover diverse subjects including politics, sex, and the Dark Lady. Most modern readers detect logical coherence within this sequence despite critical disagreements over its
aptness.
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Common questions
When was Thomas Thorpe born and where did he grow up?
Thomas Thorpe was born in 1569 to an innkeeper father in Barnet, Middlesex. He spent nine years working as an apprentice under Richard Watkins in a small shop before obtaining his publishing rights on the 2nd of May 1594.
Why do critics call Thomas Thorpe predatory regarding Shakespeare's Sonnets?
Nineteenth-century critics labeled Thomas Thorpe predatory and irresponsible for releasing Shakespeare's Sonnets in 1609 without clear evidence of the poet's permission. Sidney Lee specifically called him predatory and irresponsible regarding this publication act.
What books did Ben Jonson publish through Thomas Thorpe starting in 1605?
Ben Jonson published multiple works through Thomas Thorpe starting in 1605 including the play Sejanus His Fall alongside George Chapman's All Fools. The pair continued their collaboration on Hymenaei in 1606, Volpone in 1607, and The Masque of Blackness and The Masque of Beauty in 1608.
Who is Mr. W.H. mentioned in the dedication page of Thomas Thorpe's 1609 sonnets?
The dedication page of the 1609 sonnets addresses a mysterious figure known as Mr. W.H. One possibility suggests the manuscript came from a needy MR. W. H. who served as both dedicatee and recipient.
How many sonnets are in the collection published by Thomas Thorpe in 1609?
Thomas Thorpe likely arranged the internal order of the collection himself with sections one through seventeen functioning as procreation sonnets while eighteen through 126 focus on love for the Fair Youth. Numbers 127 to 154 cover diverse subjects including politics, sex, and the Dark Lady.