But seven of them were mentioned only once, another eight only twice, and of those fifteen, many are mentioned only by title or in a context implying and providing no knowledge of the plays. The other plays that are mentioned in France with any regularity are Antony and Cleopatra , Timon , and the histories Richard III , and Henry IV . As in Germany, many discussions are not based on any plays at all but merely on a general impression of Shakespeare. The methodologically rigorous might wonder what one would find if one applied the same methodology to the English Shakespeare canon in the first seventy years of the 18th century. In both cases what one finds is that, while certain plays are discussed more frequently than others, virtually all the plays receive considerable attention.
Critical interest is far more evenly distributed than on the continent.
But even with them, as with the plays known by title or by passing remarks, the references to particular plays were usually lost in the far longer discussions of Shakespeare's qualities in general, which seem to have had little need for supporting detail. This page belongs to Ken Larson , who is solely responsible for its content. Please see our statement of responsibility .