Overview

The most influential actor of his age, David Garrick (1717–79) shaped the London stage for over three decades as theatre manager at Drury Lane. He popularised a more natural style of acting, and did much to make Shakespeare the most revered English playwright. First published in 1780 and reissued here in the second edition of that year, this two-volume biography was written by Thomas Davies (c.1712–85). Samuel Johnson, a friend of the Garrick family, notably provided Davies with anecdotes and information on Garrick's early life. The work does not dwell on gossip or private life; it offers instead an informed portrait of the stage in Garrick's time. Davies had inhabited this world as a much less successful actor himself, before becoming a bookseller. His work is therefore a direct and valuable witness to theatrical London in the eighteenth century. The first volume covers the years 1717–63.

Full Product Details

Author:   Thomas Davies
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Volume:   Volume 1
Dimensions:   Width: 14.00cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.470kg
ISBN:  

9781108070669

ISBN 10:   1108070663
Pages:   368
Publication Date:   24 April 2014
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Dedication; Advertisement; 1. Mr Garrick's family; 2. Mr Garrick's arrival in London; 3. Characters of the actors in tragedy when Mr Garrick commenced player; 4. Account of the old actors continued; 5. Mr Garrick's first appearance on a London stage; 6. Managers of Drury-lane and Covent-garden uneasy at the success of Goodman's-field theatre; 7. Mr Garrick acting at Drury-lane theatre; 8. Prelude to the revolt of the comedians at Drury-lane; 9. Fleetwood sells the remaining term of his patent; 10. Revolutions in the theatrical world; 11. The managers of Drury-lane divide their several provinces; 12. Irene, a tragedy; 13. Character of Aaron Hill; 14. Managers complained of for not rearing theatrical plants; 15. New tragedies acted in 1753, 1754; 16. The Chinese festival; 17. Royal taste in acting; 18. Mr Foote's frequent engagements; 19. Dr Browne's Barbarossa and Athelstan; 20. A manager's difficulty arising from the offer of new plays and farces; 21. Mr Ralph; 22. Account of Woodward's desertion; 23. Archibald Bower's quarrel with Mr Garrick; 24. Winter's Tale, and Catherine and Petruchio; 25. Dr Smollet; 26. Mr Macklin's farce of Love alamode; 27. Mrs Woffington; 28. Churchill's Rosciad; 29. Coronation at both theatres; 30. Stage reformation.

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