Ambrose Gwinett or, a sea-side story: a melo-drama, in three acts

Ambrose Gwinett; or, a sea-side story: a melo-drama, in three acts

Hypercriticism has presumed to find fault with this drama, which a better taste has denominated the serious domestic historical, because, forsooth, it smacks of the Old Bailey!and, when justification has been pleaded by citing George Barnwell, we have received the retort courteous, in the story of the witling who affected to wear glasses because Pope was near-sighted. But a much better plea may be urged than the example of a bard so moderately gifted as Lillo! The Ravens of Orleans, Dog of Montargis, Family of Anglade, and numerous other public favourites, speak daggers to such hypercriticism.Ambrose Gwinett is a strange tale and a true one; and a tale both strange and true what playwright can afford to let slip through his fingers? A murder or so may be prudently relinquished, for the season will come round again; but he cannot expect to see a man hanged and resuscitated for his especial accommodation every day in the week. Ambrose Gwinett favoured the world with his autobiography at a period when autobiography was a rarity. He is unquestionably the only historian who has written his life after being gibbetteddrawn and quartered we leave to the autobiographers and dramatists of another generation! Egotism under such extraordinary circumstances may surely be pardoned; and if honest Ambrose dwell somewhat complacently on certain events of deep interest and wonder, he may plead a much better excuse than our modern autobiographers, who invent much and reveal little but a tedious catalogue of fictions and vanities; a charge that applies not to the startling narrative of the poor sweeper of the once insignificant village of Charing. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 45057
Author: Jerrold, Douglas William
Release Date: Mar 4, 2014
Format: eBook
Language: English