Memoirs of the Life of David Garrick, Esq.
Interspersed with Characters and Anecdotes of his Theatrical Contemporaries

This two-volume biography, published in 1780, charts the life of actor David Garrick (1717–79), illuminating the eighteenth-century London stage.

Thomas Davies (Author)

9781108070669, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 April 2014

368 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.1 cm, 0.47 kg

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.

Dedication
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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.

Subject Areas: Theatre studies [AN]