Stealing Shakespeare, BBC One

Dodgy dealer, dodgy documentary

by Jasper ReesFriday, 30 July 2010

Raymond Scott, antiquarian bookseller or purveyor of dodgy goods? Let the jury decide

“Well! It is now publique, & you wil stand for your priuiledges wee know: to read, and censure. Do so, but buy it first...” In 1623, the First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s works was collected by the actors John Heminge and Henry Condell. It cost a quid. Whenever they come on the market nowadays, editions tend to shift for rather more. Not so long ago I was allowed to leaf through the copy belonging to the Guildhall Library in the City of London. Valued at perhaps £2.5 million, it leaves the shelves only rarely. Whenever it does, it rests on a judiciously arranged beanbag. All who approach don white gloves. Slightly less respect was accorded to the First Folio in last night’s Stealing Shakespeare.

The Folger called in an expert, who called in another expert, who called in another expert – there were more experts in this story than you could shake a spear at

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Permalink Submitted by N.Smith (not verified) on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 12:52

This program made me so angry, what the hell is going on at the BBC? who thought it would be a good idea to waste money on giving this CRIMINAL the exposure he wants? Shame on you BBC

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Permalink Submitted by Anon (not verified) on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 19:43

I think that you may have missed the point of this programme. The idea was pretty clear to me: you give the man a long enough rope, and he will hang himself. And it seems that he did a pretty good job of that. I think it was a very good insight into the lengths people will go to in order to find happiness. He is clearly a very lonely man who went a bit too far in order to get what he wanted. Quite tragic really that people like this exist in our society. Ronnie Biggs flaunted the UK legal system for years and was considered a hero, do you think the same of the exposure he received over the years? I really enjoyed this doc, it was entertaining and really hung Scott out to dry.

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Permalink Submitted by Waqar (not verified) on Mon, 06/09/2010 - 01:22

the documentary was quite entertaining, in the sense that mr scotts iddiocy was slowly unravelled and his delusions of grandeur. Quite heart warming to see him sentenced for 8 years. What an idot.

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