Drawing on examples from the collections, she will explore stories behind early sixteenth-century editions of Chaucer, whose size and scope made them the largest books of poetry printed in England during that time. While Shakespeare’s “First Folio” often gets the most attention, Cook will show us that it was not the first printed book to assemble the complete output of an English-language author, and invite audiences to reconsider Chaucer’s place in literary history and the English past.

Arrive early at 6 pm for a gallery tour with Pforzheimer Curator of Early Books and Manuscripts, Arron Pratt. During the reception, Aaron will discuss the materials in the collection featured in 7 p.m. lecture.