Memoirs of the Life of David Garrick, Esq. 2 Volume Set
Memoirs of the Life of David Garrick, Esq. 2 Volume Set
£58.99
GBPThe 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. Volume 1 covers 1717–63; Volume 2, 1763–79.
Product details
April 2014Multiple copy pack
9781108070683
818 pages
216 × 140 × 48 mm
0.98kg
1 b/w illus.
Out of stock in print form with no current plan to reprint
Table of Contents
- Volume 1: 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. Volume 2:
- 31. Account of the riot
- 32. Author of Elvira
- 33. Reflections on the ill success of Drury-lane theatre in 1763
- 34. State of the stage during Mr Garrick's absence
- 35. Mr Garrick's entertainment in France and Italy
- 36. State of the stage during Mr Garrick's absence
- 37. Mr Garrick's return to England
- 38. Death of Mrs Cibber
- 39. Mr Garrick's Country Girl
- 40. Hugh Kelly
- 41. Dr Goldsmith
- 42. The Padlock
- 43. Mrs Pritchard retires from the stage
- 44. Mr Havard leaves the stage
- 45. The jubilee at Stratford
- 46. Mr Mossop quits the service of Mr Garrick
- 47. Mr Barry visits London
- 48. Mr Foote and Mr Garrick
- 49. Mr Cumberland
- 50. Death of Mr Lacey
- 51. The players unprotected and persecuted
- 52. Improvements in the entrance to Drury-lane theatre
- 53. Mr Garrick retired from the theatre
- 54. View of Mr Garrick's general character
- Appendix.
