In this fascinating book, Leah Marcus argues that the colonial context in which Shakespeare was edited and disseminated during the heyday of British empire has left a mark on Shakespeare's texts to the present day. Shakespeare was presented as exemplary of British genius and those who edited and shaped the texts were very aware of the potential political and cultural impact this could have. Marcus traces important ways in which the colonial enterprise of setting forth the best possible Shakespeare for world consumption has continued to be visible in the recent treatment of Shakespeare's texts today, despite our belief that we are global or post-colonial in approach.

The construction of a colonial Shakespeare -- Race and gender in the two texts of Othello -- The shrew in colonial contexts -- Anti-conquest and As you like it -- Shylock and Empire -- Editing Shakespeare for the Raj.