The Dramatic Works of Edwin Atherstone (Classic Reprint)

Book excerpt: Excerpt from The Dramatic Works of Edwin Atherstone Between sixty and seventy years have elapsed since the following dramas were written. They were many times, between 1824 and 1834, offered to the then great London theatres; and I have a clear recollection of seeing letters from Kemble, and I - think several - from Edmund Kean, expressive of their approval; and of their willingness to take a part in either of the two first plays. The character of the last Philip of Macedon was by them - as also by other great tragedians - considered to afford scope for the exercise of an actor's best abilities. It was suggested - I fancy from Covent Garden - that the comedy would be more likely to succeed were the scene laid in England. Therefore, under my father's direction, I (who from childhood had been his copyist - his 'Secretary' according to our most valued friends of those old days - ) had to fairly transcribe the whole, - changing names and scenery: but ere the task was completed, the Manager - at whose suggestion it was undertaken - seems to have left the Stage. I much prefer - for many reasons - the comedy in its original form. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.