Walking Shadow: A Dual Narrative of Loss and Literary Obsession
This remarkable book presents two intertwined stories that together form a profoundly moving account of love, death, and artistic legacy. The first section contains the final diaries of acclaimed actor Antony Sher, written during the six months before his death from liver cancer in December 2021. The second, more extensive portion documents his husband Greg Doran's extraordinary quest to view as many copies of Shakespeare's First Folio as possible following Sher's passing.
The Dying Diaries: Sher's Final Months
Antony Sher, celebrated for his multiple roles as actor, artist, and writer, demonstrates his characteristic sharp observation in what he termed The Dying Diaries. These entries reveal a compelling mixture of raw honesty, resilience, and unexpected humor. Sher doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of his illness, describing cancer as "a bomb in our household" that detonates at unpredictable moments.
Yet even in facing mortality, Sher maintains his distinctive wit. Upon learning that the two lesions in his liver were the size of a satsuma and a walnut, he mused that this might make an excellent title for his diaries. He also reflected with irony that his final stage role in Kunene and the King by John Kani portrayed an elderly South African Shakespearean actor dying of liver cancer, quipping: "Who says that actors don't take their roles home with them?"
What emerges most powerfully from these diaries is the enduring love between Sher and Doran, and their continued capacity for shared joy despite the grim circumstances. Their mutual appreciation ranged from wildlife observations to listening to recordings of American comedian Jackie Mason, creating moments of light amid the darkness.
The Folio Quest: Doran's Journey Through Grief
Following Sher's death, Greg Doran stepped down as artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and left their Stratford home, searching for a new purpose. He conceived what he describes as a slightly "crazy" idea: to mark the 400th anniversary of the First Folio's publication in 2023 by tracking down as many of the surviving copies as possible.
Doran's journey began in Britain but soon expanded globally, taking him to North America, Japan, South Africa, and Australia. When questioned about why he would want to examine numerous copies of the same book, Doran initially claimed he sought to understand Shakespeare's complex legacy. In truth, he recognized his quest as "a massive piece of displacement activity" - a way to navigate his profound grief.
Stories Within Stories: The Folio Roadshow
Each First Folio copy carries its own history, and Doran begins with a particularly memorable anecdote. In 1964, during Shakespeare's 400th birth anniversary celebrations, the Catholic Church invited RSC actors to perform before Pope Paul VI. The company's First Folio, insured for £25,000, traveled separately by train as a precaution against potential plane disaster.
Following the recital, actress Dorothy Tutin impulsively presented the Folio to the Pope, who misinterpreted the gesture as a gift and directed a cardinal to place it in the Vatican vaults. Only swift intervention by the Archbishop of Westminster prevented Stratford from permanently losing its precious Shakespearean bible.
Throughout his travels, which Doran calls The Folio Roadshow, Sher remains constantly present in his thoughts. Visiting Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral prompts reflections on Sher's funeral and Doran's own diminished faith. Flying into Cape Town evokes memories of always switching seats so Sher could enjoy window views of his beloved Table Mountain.
Global Encounters and Literary Discoveries
Doran's journey takes him to remarkable locations and introduces him to fascinating individuals, including the Emperor of Japan and King Charles III. The monarch had personally phoned the dying Sher and later invited Doran to examine the Windsor First Folio housed in the Royal Library. Particularly touching was Charles showing Doran his personal Shakespeare edition containing annotated passages, including Henry V's line: "I think the king is but a man, as I am."
The quest culminates at Washington's Folger Library, which astonishingly houses 82 of the surviving First Folios. Along the way, Doran encounters intriguing variations between copies, such as the Skipton edition missing all comedies, prompting speculation about whether the Brontë sisters might have read this version or whether Charlotte removed plays she disliked.
Forgers, Fakers, and Shakespearean Legacy
While Doran's passion for both Shakespeare and Sher shines throughout the narrative, he also demonstrates keen awareness of the eccentric characters who have exploited the Bard's legacy. He recounts the story of William Henry Ireland, who in 1795 claimed to have discovered a lost Shakespeare play called Vortigern and Rowena, successfully deceiving many until its single performance at Drury Lane provoked audience laughter and exposure.
Another notable fraudster, John Payne Collier, produced numerous "emendations" to a later Folio edition during the mid-19th century before being revealed as what Doran terms a "great literary slug." Meanwhile, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, despite establishing the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, proved himself a vandal by removing the Droeshout engraving of Shakespeare from Stratford's own First Folio.
A Testament to Healing Through Art
By the book's conclusion, Doran's Folio obsession becomes contagious for readers, who gain substantial knowledge about how these precious volumes were printed, distributed, collected, and sometimes damaged. Beyond its scholarly contributions, Walking Shadow ultimately presents a profoundly human story about transforming grief into purposeful quest and finding consolation through artistic engagement.
The narrative demonstrates how mourning the loss of a loved one can evolve into seemingly impossible missions that ultimately provide healing and hope. Doran's journey through Shakespeare's legacy becomes a metaphor for navigating personal loss, with each First Folio serving as both historical artifact and emotional touchstone in his process of remembrance and recovery.
