Memoirs of the Life of Charles Macklin, Esq.
Principally Compiled from his Own Papers and Memorandums

Drawing on his own papers and first published in 1799, this two-volume account traces the colourful life of the actor and playwright Charles Macklin (c.1699–1797). His long career serves as the focal point in a history of the eighteenth-century theatre and its most celebrated performers. Hailed for his enduring interpretation of Shakespeare's Shylock, a role he played for some fifty years, Macklin has been credited with the theatre's move towards realism. His life was just as dramatic offstage, marked as it was by a series of controversies and fierce rivalries. In 1735 he was convicted of the manslaughter of a fellow actor in a quarrel over a wig, and in 1775 he successfully pressed charges of conspiracy against theatregoers who had rioted during his performances. Volume 1 covers Macklin's childhood and early career, including his trial for the killing of Thomas Hallam.

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Product details

• Date Published: September 2013
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9781108064668
• length: 500 pages

• dimensions: 216 x 140 x 28 mm
• weight: 0.63kg
• contains: 1 b/w illus.
• availability: Available