Professor Ewan Fernie, the chair and fellow at the Shakespeare Institute at Stratford-upon-Avon, is set to deliver a public lecture at NSW State Library about the significance of Shakespeare's First Folio and establish a connection between the copy found in Sydney and Birmingham.

As the Project Director of the 'Everything to Everybody' Project, Fernie aims to introduce the only Shakespeare First Folio in the world. The decision to bring this ancient work into the public eye underscores the NSW State Library's commitment to sharing cultural and historical treasures. In his Interview with the Guardian, Fernie stated that the First Folio may be the Western culture's most essential secular book.

In addition, the 'Everything to Everybody' Project aims to transform the unique First Folio at the Birmingham Shakespeare Memorial Library into a global symbol of Birmingham's pioneering philosophy of being inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Published in 1623, the First Folio of Shakespeare comprises 36 of his plays, including classics such as 'Hamlet,' 'Macbeth,' and 'Romeo and Juliet.' Notably, this edition holds special significance as it was compiled and published by two close associates and fellow actors of Shakespeare, John Heminges and Henry Condell, shortly after the playwright's death.

Ben Jonson, a friend and creative rival of Shakespeare, became one of the first pioneers in self-publishing, releasing his own folio in 1616. Jonson was the one who urged the two fellow actors to publish Shakespear's First Folio. Fernie told the 'Guardian' that half of Shakespeare's plays would not exist at present if not for the First Folio. 

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Emma Smith, a professor of Shakespeare studies at Oxford University and the author of 'Shakespeare's First Folio: Four Centuries of an Iconic Book,' states that the First Folio remains highly praised for its relevance. Smith agrees with Fernie's claim about the importance of the First Folio in bringing half of Shakespeare's plays to the world. She claimed that if not for the First Folio, Shakespeare would not have become a global literary figure.

The First Folio is still one of the most expensive books in the world, despite it not being exceptionally rare due to the large number of copies identified. Approximately 750 copies of the First Folio are believed to have been printed, but only around 235 are known today. In 2020, a copy sold through Christie's fetched a staggering $9.98 million, setting a record as the highest price ever for a literary work at the New York auction house.

Throughout his three-decade career, Fernie has dedicated himself to advancing a more democratic and inclusive representation of Shakespeare, ensuring its accessibility to a broader audience. This commitment is exemplified in his role as the 'Everything to Everybody Project' director.

The State Library of NSW's decision to share this treasure with the public ensures that Shakespeare's legacy remains a source of inspiration and enchantment, proving that even after 400 years, the magic of the written word continues.

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