Richard Brinsley Sheridan: A LifeFrom the opening night of The School for Scandal, Sheridan was launched into the little great world of eighteenth century society. For the next thirty years he was both manager of the Drury Lane Theatre and member of Parliament, rising above the disadvantages of his early poverty to become one of the greatest figures of the age. Despite the permanent chaos of his financial and personal lives, no one could be angry with Sheridan for long. The author of this biography has used contemporary letters, journals and memoirs, to give a detailed portrait of, in the words of Harold Nicolson, one of the kindest and most amusing men that ever lived. |
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actor admiration Alicia Alicia LeFanu audience Bath Begums Betsy Sheridan Boaden Britain British brother Burke Catholic emancipation character Charles comedy Creevey dear death debts Devonshire House Drury Lane Dublin Duchess of Devonshire Duke Dulwich Picture Gallery Elizabeth England Fanny Burney father feeling Fox's France French Garrick gentleman Grenville Grey Hastings heard Hecca honour hope House of Commons ibid Ireland Irish Kemble king Lady Bessborough later LeFanu letter London manager marriage married Mathews Moore never night once Parliament parliamentary Percy Fitzgerald performance Pitt Pitt's play Polesden Lacey political Prince of Wales prince's R. B. Sheridan refused Richard Brinsley Sheridan scene School for Scandal Sichel Siddons sister speech stage talents theatre theatrical Thomas Linley Thomas Sheridan thought Tickell told took tragedy Whig Whitbread wife writing wrote