Missing Shakespeare Knocks on Folger's Door

The library staff wanted to consult an outside expert, Stephen Massey. The mysterious man agreed to let the library keep the book for Massey's inspection, which did not take place until June 26. By the next day, Massey and the Folger staff had reached a conclusion: In their hands was the missing Durham First Folio.

The Folger called the FBI and gave officials the man's name and contact information. The British Embassy in Washington alerted the Durham police.

The suspect was arrested Thursday on suspicion of theft, and he was still being questioned late yesterday, Durham time.

The man lives in a modest brick two-bedroom house in a working-class neighborhood of Washington, England -- the ancestral town of George Washington's family, about a 15-minute drive from the university where the folio was stolen.

According to police, there was a silver Ferrari in his driveway and Armani suits in the closets. The man lived there with his mother, who is in her 80s. The home was crammed with antique books. The mother -- who told police that her son "buys and sells books" -- had been moved out by police who were searching the home yesterday. Besides the First Folio, several other rare works were stolen in the same 1998 heist.

"This is very, very exciting," said Dionne Hamil, a spokeswoman for Durham University. "It's a national treasure."

Bill Bryson, Durham University's chancellor and a U.S.-born author of a work on Shakespeare, among other well-known books, said in a statement: "This is not only wonderful news for the university but for all Shakespeare's scholars and fans around the world."

As the Bard might say, "All's well that ends well."

Jordan reported from London. Staff researcher Robert E. Thomason contributed to this report.