Author: Richard Cumberland; George Colman; William Kenrick
Title: The West Indian a Comedy [with] the English Merchant, a Comedy [with] the Widow&Apos;D Wife a Comedy [with] Man and Wife or the Shakespeare Jubilee [with] the Brothers a Comedy
Description: London, Various Publishers, 1767-71. Leather. A selection of rare eighteenth century comedies by three of the period's best known playwrights. Bound together in one volume. 'The West Indian A Comedy' Richard Cumberland, A New Edition, 1771 'The English Merchant, a Comedy' George Colman, The Second Edition, 1767 'The Widow'd Wife a Comedy' W Kenrick, A New Edition, 1768 'Man and Wife or the Shakespeare Jubilee' George Colman, 1770 'The Brothers a Comedy' Richard Cumberland, 1770 Richard Cumberland, the author of two of these plays, is best remembered for his sympathetic portrayal of marginal characters. 'The West Indian' is Cumberland's best known play. It depicts Belcour, a West Indian plantation owner travelling to Britain. The play was an immediate success and ran for 28 performances in its original run. 'The Brothers' was Cumberland's breakthrough work. The play featured a complex plot upon the backdrop of Cornwall. It was written two years before 'The West Indian&apos. In addition to his writing career, Cumberland was also a civil servant. During the American War of Independence he acted as a secret negotiator with Spain in an effort to secure a peace agreement between the two nations. George Colman (the elder) was an English dramatist and essayist. His son, often referred to as 'The Younger' was also a playwright. His magnum opus is considered to be 'The Jealous Wife', a comedy based on Tom Jones. This play brought him instant fame. He was known for adapting many of Shakespeare's plays and was also the acting manager of the Covent Garden theatre. William Kenrick was a novelist, playwright, translator and satirist. He spent a lot of his career libeling his fellow writers. He penned several works in imitation of Shakespeare such as 'Falstaff's Wedding', a comic sequel to Herny IV Part II. The work to this volume, 'The Widow'd Wife' followed and had a growing success. It ran for 14 nights and resumed the next season. The play premiered at Drury Lane Theatre on 5 December 1767 and closely resembled the plot of 'Memoirs of a Magdalen' by Hugh Kelly. In a full calf binding. Externally, sound with patches of heavy rubbing at the joints. Hinges and joints are starting but firm. Prior owner's inscriptions to the endpapers. Prior owner's bookplate to the front pastedown, John Carver. Internally, firmly bound. Pages 89 and 90 of 'The Widowed Wife' have been misnumbered 49 and 50. Final leaf to man and wife is chipped to the edges and has a closed tear to the gutter. Tidemarks to the page edges of 'Man and Wife' to the final twenty pages. Pages are generally bright with just the odd spots. Good . Ill.: None. Good .

Keywords: Theatre Cumberland Colman Kenrick Cumberland None


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