Thomas Thorpe facts for kids
Thomas Thorpe (born around 1569 – died around 1625) was an English publisher. He is most famous for publishing Shakespeare's sonnets and books by other well-known writers like Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson. For a long time, people argued about how he published Shakespeare's sonnets. Some thought he did it without Shakespeare's permission. But today, many experts believe Thorpe was a respected publisher and did nothing wrong.
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Who Was Thomas Thorpe?
Thomas Thorpe grew up in Chipping Barnet, England. His father was an innkeeper. Thomas started his career as an apprentice, learning the book trade for nine years.
In 1594, Thorpe got the right to publish books. This meant he could choose which books to print and sell. However, he didn't own a printing press himself. His first book was The First Book of Lucan, a translation by Christopher Marlowe. He got the rights for this book from his good friend, Edward Blount.
Thorpe did something unusual for the time: he dedicated the book to Blount. Usually, books were dedicated to rich or famous people like noblemen or royalty. This shows how close he was to Blount.
Thorpe's Publishing Success
Thomas Thorpe's publishing career really took off around 1605. He published All Fools by George Chapman and Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson. Edward Blount also helped him get the rights for Jonson's play. Some people even think Ben Jonson himself might have helped with the printing of his own book, making sure it looked just right.
It's a bit of a mystery how Thorpe stayed in business. He didn't own his own printing shop or a bookshop. Instead, he hired other printers to print his books. He also worked with booksellers to sell them. For example, his famous 1609 edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets was printed by George Eld and sold by William Aspley and William Wright.
Thorpe continued publishing until at least 1624. He likely died in 1625, as his wife, Dorcas Thorpe, took over his estate that year. He also stopped receiving money from the Stationers' Company, which was a group for people in the book business.
Publishing Shakespeare's Sonnets
In 1609, Thomas Thorpe published the most important book of his career: Shakespeare's Sonnets. Many people thought he published them without William Shakespeare's permission. However, some modern experts believe Thorpe was not a "scoundrel" as he was sometimes called. They point out that his friend Edward Blount, who was a good person, wouldn't have worked with him if he was dishonest.
It's even possible that Shakespeare himself sold the poems to Thorpe. Shakespeare knew Ben Jonson, who might have suggested Thorpe as a good publisher. The dedication in the book, which is addressed to a mysterious "Mr. W.H.", might have been written by Shakespeare or by Thorpe.
Thorpe probably decided the order of the sonnets in the book. This order is still mostly used today. The first 17 sonnets are about having children, while most of the others (up to sonnet 126) are love poems to a young man called the "Fair Youth". The last sonnets (from 127 to 154) cover different topics, including a mysterious "Dark Lady". Even though some critics disagree, most people think the order makes sense.
Famous Books Published by Thorpe
Here are some of the notable works Thomas Thorpe published:
- 1600 – The First Book of Lucan by Christopher Marlowe
- 1605 – All Fools by George Chapman
- 1605 – Sejanus by Ben Jonson
- 1606 – The Gentleman Usher by George Chapman
- 1606 – Hymenaei by Ben Jonson
- 1607 – What You Will by John Marston
- 1607 – Volpone by Ben Jonson
- 1608 – The Masque of Blackness and The Masque of Beauty by Ben Jonson
- 1608 – The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron by George Chapman
- 1609 – Shake-speare's sonnets by William Shakespeare
