How to Pronounce Condell

Meaning and Context

The surname Condell is indelibly linked to the preservation of English literature through Henry Condell, a distinguished actor and shareholder in the King's Men, the premier playing company of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Alongside his fellow actor and friend John Heminges, Condell undertook the monumental editorial task of compiling, editing, and publishing Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, known universally as the First Folio in 1623. This seminal volume, published seven years after Shakespeare's death, is the primary source for eighteen of Shakespeare's plays, including masterpieces like Macbeth and The Tempest, which might otherwise have been lost. Their work in the First Folio publication was not merely administrative; in a poignant prefatory address "To the great Variety of Readers," Heminges and Condell positioned themselves as devoted "friends and fellows" of the Bard, urging the public to "read him" and thereby securing Shakespeare's literary legacy for posterity. Their effort remains a cornerstone of Shakespearean studies and Elizabethan theatre history.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling is "Condell," though historical records from the period are notoriously inconsistent. Common variants found in archival documents include "Cundell" and "Condall," reflecting the fluid orthography of early modern English. A frequent modern typo or misspelling is "Candell," with an 'a', likely due to the phonetic similarity or confusion with the word "candle." Another occasional error is "Condel," dropping the final 'l'. Researchers and students searching for information on the First Folio compilers should be mindful of these alternate spellings when examining primary sources or conducting comprehensive database searches to ensure they capture all relevant historical material.

Example Sentences

Without the diligent efforts of Henry Condell and John Heminges, nearly half of Shakespeare's dramatic canon might have vanished into obscurity.

Scholars often highlight the prefatory material in the First Folio, where Condell and his co-editor made a passionate appeal for the plays to be read, not just performed.

Tracing the provenance of a First Folio often involves examining the annotations and marks left by its early owners, a history that begins with its publication by Condell and Heminges.

While William Shakespeare is the celebrated author, the names Henry Condell and John Heminges are equally revered by bibliophiles for their role as literary guardians.

A comprehensive study of the King's Men company is incomplete without acknowledging the managerial and editorial contributions of shareholders like Condell.

Related Pronunciations

• How to pronounce Blake Harrison
• How to pronounce Tyler Hoechlin
• How to pronounce Angela Lansbury
• How to pronounce Emilio Estevez
• How to pronounce Leigh Francis