Charles Reade 1814-1884
Charles Reade
If no judgment is here attempted of the work of Charles Reade, it is because he refuses to be “placed,” in the opinion of the present writer. At times he is so fine, so resilient, so impressive; at others, the dullest of pamphleteers, a cramped Meredith in style, a very waxwork among sensationalists. Fortunately certain aspects of his powerful but clumsy mind have of late been admirably presented. The “London Mercury” for June, 1921 (Vol. IV., No. 20), contained an article by E. W. Hornung which all interested would do well to read. In the matter of biography proper students may be referred (but without confidence) to:
CHARLES READE: DRAMATIST, NOVELIST, JOURNALIST. A memoir compiled chiefly from his literary remains by Charles L. Reade and the Rev. Compton Reade. 2 vols. London: Chapman and Hall Ltd., 1887.
This pious work is too rhapsodical to possess more than personal interest.
CHARLES READE AS I KNEW HIM. By John Coleman. London: Treherne and Co. 1903.
Reference is made below to the useful list of plays which concludes this otherwise rather chaotic book.
I — Editiones Principes — A — Fiction, Essays, etc.
1853
Note—This book, although dated 1853, was actually published on December 17, 1852. The first edition was of 500 copies.
1853
Note—This book was published on August 25, 1853. The first edition was of 500 copies.
1856
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 395 + (1).
Vol. II. pp. (ii) + 349 + (1).
Vol. III. pp. (ii) + 344.
Notes—(i) This book was published on August 1, 1856. The story is based on the play Gold (see below, p. 171).
(ii) Reade replied to certain charges brought against the novel in a pamphlet, but I cannot determine the details of its title and appearance.
1857
Note—This book was published on September 28, 1857. The cloth and boards editions were simultaneous.
1857
Vol. I. pp. v + (i) + 300.
Vol. II. pp. (ii) + 237 + (1).
Vol. III. pp. (ii) + 231 + (1).
Note—This book was published in December, 1857. The story, which appeared serially in the “London Journal,” was based on Reade’s play The Double Marriage, itself an adaptation from the French (see below, p. 174).
1857
Note—This short story, published in “Bentley’s Miscellany” in November, 1853, was only issued in book form in America.
1858
Note—This book was published in March, 1858.
1859
Vol. I. pp. (viii) + 390 + (2).
Vol. II. pp. 358 + (2).
Note—This book was published in April, 1859.
1860
Note—This book was published in July, 1860, at the author’s own expense. Written in assault of those who had infringed Reade’s rights in Poverty and Pride (see below, p. 172), it proved too contentious for publishers’ tastes.
1861
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 360.
Vol. II. pp. (ii) + 384.
Vol. III. pp. (ii) + 328.
Vol. IV. pp. (ii) + 435 + (1).
Note—This book was published in October, 1861.
1863
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 356.
Vol. II. pp. (ii) + 365 + (1).
Vol. III. pp. (ii) + 369 + (5). Publishers’ announcements, dated December 10, 1863, occupy pages (371) to (374).
No half-titles. Grey-green cloth, blocked in gold. Pale yellow end-papers.
Note—This book was published on December 15, 1863. The story appeared serially in “All the Year Round,” for which magazine it had been commissioned by Dickens.
1867
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 302.
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 318.
Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 328. Publishers’ catalogue, 16 pp., dated October, 1866, bound in at end.
Note—Although dated 1867, this book was actually published in October, 1866. The story appeared serially in the “Argosy.”
1868
Vol. I. pp. (vi) + 277 + (1).
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 278.
Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 261 + (1).
Note—This book was published in November or December, 1868. The story ran serially in “Once a Week” from January of the same year. In 1881 F. C. Burnand published a parody of the novel under the title: Chikkin Hazard: A Novel by Charles Readit and Dion Bounceycore. This parody appeared in “Our Novel Shilling Series,” published by Bradbury, Agnew and Co., of which the other volumes are pastiches of novels by Ouida, Victor Hugo, Hawley Smart, and Rhoda Broughton.
1870
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 317 + (1).
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 318 + (2).
Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 332.
Note—This book was published in June, 1870. The story appeared serially in the “Cornhill.”
1871
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 303 + (1).
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 310 + (2).
Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 300.
Note—This book was published in August, 1871. The story appeared serially in “Cassell’s Magazine.”
1873
Vol. I. pp. ix + (i) + 272.
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 267 + (1).
Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 305 + (1).
Maroon cloth, blocked in gold and blind. Yellow end-papers.
Notes—(i) This book was published in August, 1873. The story appeared serially in “London Society.”
1874
A HERO AND A MARTYR: A True and Accurate Account of the Heroic feats and sad Calamity of James Lambert. By Charles Reade (2 Albert Terrace, Knightsbridge). London: Samuel French, 89 Strand, Publisher. 1874. 1 vol. Royal 8vo (6¼ × 9⅝). Pp. (viii) + 40. Orange or green paper wrappers, printed in black. Publisher’s advertisements occupy inside front, and inside and outside back wrappers. Wood-engraved frontispiece printed on text paper.
1875
Note—This book was published in April, 1875. The Wandering Heir was first printed in the “Graphic.”
1877
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 280.
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 285 + (3). Publishers’ advertisements occupy pp. (287) and (288).
Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 282 + (2). Publishers’ advertisements occupy pp. (283) and (284).
Note—This book was published in June, 1877. When serialized the story was anonymous.
1877
Note—This publication was of a kind known as an “18mo packet.” It consisted of a number of loose sheets enclosed in a paper wrapper, designed either to gum or to tuck in, but wholly detached from its contents. Never having seen a copy of the packet in question, I cannot do more than conjecture that the loose sheets bore each a brief moral tale, which a devout parent could administer Sunday by Sunday to the deserving young.
1883
Readiana: Comments on Current Events. By Charles Reade, D.C.L. with a steel-plate portrait. London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly. 1883. 1 vol. Cr. 8vo (5 × 7½). Pp. vi + 329 + (1). Frontispiece and title-page, printed together but not on text paper, are inset between pp. (ii) and (iii). Publishers’ catalogue, 32 pp., dated July, 1882, bound in at end. Publishers’ advertisement occupies p. (ii). Red cloth, gilt, blocked in black, uniform with the cheap edition of Reade’s novels published just previously to this book’s appearance. Brown-purple and white decorated end-papers. Engraved portrait frontispiece printed on same paper as title. Line engraving on title-page.
Note—Although this book is dated 1883, it was actually published in October, 1882.
1884
Note—This book was published in July, 1884. The story appeared serially in “Harper’s Magazine.”
1884
GOOD STORIES OF MAN AND OTHER ANIMALS. By Charles Reade, D.C.L. Illustrations by E. A. Abbey, Percy Macquoid and Joseph Nash. London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly. 1884. 1 vol. Cr. 8vo (5 × 7½). Pp. (ii) + 287 + (1). Frontispiece and title-page, printed together but not on text paper, are inset before p. (i), pp. (i) and (ii) forming a single leaf pasted to back of title. No half-title. Publishers’ catalogue, 32 pp., dated October, 1884, bound in at end. Four illustrations in line, of which one is the frontispiece; all printed separately. Red cloth, gilt, blocked in black. Uniform with Readiana. Green and white decorated end-papers.
Note—This book was published in October, 1884.
1884
The Jilt: And Other Stories. By Charles Reade, D.C.L. Four Illustrations by Joseph Nash. London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly. 1884. 1 vol. Cr. 8vo (5 × 7½). Pp. (ii) + 282 + (2). Frontispiece and title-page, printed together but not on text paper, are inset before p. (i), pp. (i) and (ii) forming a single leaf pasted to back of title. No half-title. Publishers’ catalogue, 32 pp., dated September, 1884, bound in at end. Four full-page illustrations in line, of which one is the frontispiece; all printed separately. Line engraving on title. Red cloth, gilt, blocked in black. Uniform with Readiana. Green and white decorated end-papers.
Note—This book was published in October, 1884.
1884
Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 296.
Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 312.
Note—Although this book is dated 1884, it was not actually published until March 10, 1885. The story appeared serially in the “Temple Bar Magazine.”
1888
Note—This book was published in September, 1888.
1910
Note—This is the first edition in book form of a story which appeared in 1859 in “Once a Week.” Reade afterwards expanded his idea into The Cloister and the Hearth.
Editiones Principes (Continued) — B — Plays: Original, Translated, and Written in Collaboration
[1834 or 1835]
Note—Reade has himself left a statement that while at Oxford he printed at his own cost a few copies of this dramatic version of Smollett’s famous novel.
Note—This play is based on a French drama, Les Dames de la Halle.
THE COURIER OF LYONS: Or The Attack upon the Mail: A Drama in Four Acts. Translated from the French of MM. Moreau, Siraudin and Delacourt. Thomas Hailes Lacy, Wellington Street, Strand. 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo (4¼ × 7¼). Pp. 43 + (1). Advertisements occupy p. (44). Salmon-pink paper wrappers, printed in black, uniform with the other volumes in Lacy’s Acting Edition, of which this is No. 220.
1854
1854
1854
THE KING’S RIVAL: A Drama in Five Acts. By Tom Taylor and Charles Reade, authors of Masks and Faces, Two Loves and a Life etc. etc. First produced at the Theatre Royal, St. James’s, October 4, 1854. London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street. 1854. 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo (4¼ × 6¾). Pp. (viii) + 72. Mustard-yellow paper wrappers, printed in black as title-page.
Notes—(i) The three preceding items were also issued as one volume bound in maroon cloth, blocked in gold and blind, and lettered on the spine “Dramas by Tom Taylor and Charles Reade,” and with pale yellow end-papers. The sheets used were those of the original pamphlet issue, the separate title-pages and half-titles being preserved, but the sheets being cut to measure 4⅛ × 6⅝.
(ii) In their original separate form Masks and Faces and Two Loves and a Life were published on July 1, and The King’s Rival on October 17, 1854.
1857
Note—This book was published on August 12, 1857.
1857
Note—This play was later acted under the title The Robust Invalid (June, 1870). I do not know whether a printed text exists with this title.
1859
[?1867]
DORA: A Pastoral Poem in Three Acts. With New Scenic Effect and Appropriate Music. Founded on Mr. Tennyson’s poem and written by Charles Reade. London: Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street and Charing Cross. 1 vol. Cr. 8vo (4¾ × 7⅜). Pp. 53 + (3). Yellow paper wrappers, printed in black with the single word “Dora” enclosed in decorative frame.
Notes—(i) This play was reissued about 1872 or 1873 by Williams and Strahan, 7 Lawrence Lane, Cheapside, in a fifty-page pamphlet measuring 4⅛ × 7⅛ and wrappered in buff paper, printed merely with the word “Dora” in black. The text shows slight variations from that of the first issue.
(ii) The date of the first of the above issues is doubtful. Dora was written in 1863 or 1864, but evidence is wanting to show whether it was then printed, or not until its first production in 1867. It was revived in the early nineties.
[?1867]
Note—This play is based on Le Château Grantier by Maquet. The date of printing is conjectural, being that of its first production. Reade’s novel White Lies (see above, p. 161) is a fictional version of the same plot.
[?1869]
Notes—(i) This booklet bears no printer’s name, date, or other mark of identification. The text differs slightly from that issued in 1883 and described below.
(ii) The date is purely conjectural. Coleman mentions no play of this title, but speaks of Griffith Gaunt as having been produced in 1868 or 1869. The above item being a dramatic version of Griffith Gaunt, I am inclined to think that this is the play referred to, and have accordingly dated it as having been printed about the time of the first production.
[?1872 or 1873]
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Drama in Five Acts. By Charles Reade. Author of Gold; Rachel the Reaper; Ladies’ Battle; Nobs and Snobs; The Lost Husband; The Double Marriage; Kate Peyton; Foul Play; Put Yourself in His Place; The Wandering Heir; Shilly Shally; The Courier of Lyons; etc. etc. And one of the authors of Masks and Faces; Two Loves and a Life; The First Printer; The King’s Rival. London: Printed by Williams and Strahan, 7 Lawrence Lane, Cheapside. 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo (4¼ × 7) Pp. 97 + (1). Buff paper wrappers, printed in black with the play title only.
Notes—(i) This play was reissued in 1890 in a pamphlet printed for private circulation by W. Spearing, 1, Great Queen Street, W.C. The booklet measures 5½ × 8½; contains pp. 148—of which (1) to (4) are regular prelims., (5) to (146) are printed alternately and paged (5) to 76, and (147) and (148) are blank—and is bound in grey paper wrappers, printed in black. The text of this second version shows considerable variation from that of the first, and the play is in four acts instead of five.
(ii) The date at the head of this item is conjectural. Reade’s first original dramatization of It’s Never Too Late to Mend was written by 1864 and produced in 1865. Coleman speaks in that year of receiving from Laura Seymour a “yellow covered book” of the text of the play, and this book, if printed, was the real first edition. But I cannot prove the existence of a printed text at that date, and prefer to give first place to the pamphlet here described, although, because of the other plays mentioned on the title-page, it cannot be of earlier date than 1872.
(iii) In July, 1860, a dramatization of Reade’s novel had been issued in Lacy’s Acting Edition. Reade was rightly furious at the unauthorized issue of this version, and hastened to prepare one of his own. For the benefit of those interested I append details of the pirate booklet.
[1860-July]
NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. A Drama of Real Life in Four Acts, founded on Mr. Charles Reade’s Popular Novel. By Colin Hazlewood, author of The Return of the Wanderer, Jenny Foster, Trials of Poverty, Going to Chobham, etc. etc. Thomas Hailes Lacy, 89 Strand (opposite Southampton Street, Covent Garden Market), London. 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo (4¼ × 7¼). Pp. 65 + (1). List of plays occupies p. (66). Salmon-pink paper wrappers, printed in black, uniform with the other volumes in Lacy’s Acting Editions. This volume is unnumbered.
THE LADIES’ BATTLE: Or Un Duel en Amour: A Comedy in Three Acts. By Charles Reade Esq., author of Gold, Art, The Lost Husband, The Foster Sisters, and one of the authors of Masks and Faces, Two Loves and a Life, King’s Rival etc. etc. London: Samuel French, Publisher, 89 Strand. New York: Samuel French and Son, Publishers, 122 Nassau Street. 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo (4¼ × 7¼). Pp. 41 + (3). Advertisements occupy pp. (43) and (44). Salmon-pink paper wrappers, printed in black, uniform with the other volumes in French’s (late Lacy’s) Acting Editions, of which this is No. 1609.
Note—This is a revised version of the play originally published in 1851 (see above, p. 170).
1878
1883
Note—This play was written in collaboration with Boucicault and produced early in 1868. It was attacked on the ground that it was pirated from a French drama: La Portefeuille Rouge. Reade hotly denied that he had read or even heard of this French play, and Coleman considers the denial to have been genuine enough. He is, however, less certain that Boucicault was not familiar with the supposed French original. Foul Play, as first acted, was later revived under different titles—The Scuttled Ship and Our Seaman. Perhaps the text described above and bearing Reade’s name only is a different version from that produced with Boucicault. Of the text in collaboration I can trace no printed issue.
1883
1883
Note—There being no title-page to this pamphlet, the lettering given above is that of the wrapper.
1883
Note
The bibliography of Reade’s plays is obscure and confusing. I have listed in the foregoing pages only those of the printed issue of which I have found certain evidence. He is known, however, to have written many more, some at least of which were probably printed privately. Wherefore it seems desirable here to supply such particulars as can be found of the writing and acting of Reade’s other plays. The facts are taken mainly from Coleman’s book, which contains as an appendix a good list of titles and dates of production. Unfortunately the book itself is so confusingly put together that text and appendix are far from complementary and at times even in conflict.
A. Early Unacted Plays, Written Before 1851
The Way Things Turn.
The Dangerous Path.
The Lost Sisters.
Marguerite.
Lucrezia Borgia.
A Lady’s Oath.
Christie Johnstone
(The novel of the same name was built, long after, on the ruins of this unacceptable play).
B. Acted Plays, With Dates of First Production and Other Available Details
The Village Tale (produced 1852)
(Based on Claudie, by George Sand. Revived in 1872 under the title Rachel the Reaper).
Art (produced 1852)
(An adaptation of Tiridate and later christened Nance Oldfield).
Nobs and Snobs (produced 1854)
(Revived in 1865 under the title Honour before Titles).
The First Printer (produced 1854).
Free Labour (produced 1870)
(A dramatic version of the novel Put Yourself in his Place).
Shilly Shally (produced 1872)
(An unauthorized dramatization of Anthony Trollope’s novel Ralph the Heir. Reade’s action in appropriating the story was deeply resented by Trollope).
The Wandering Heir (produced 1872 or 1873)
(A dramatic version of the story of the same name).
Jealousy (produced 1875)
(An adaptation of Sardou’s comedy Andrée, and not to be confused with Reade’s dramatizations of his own novel Griffith Gaunt).
Rachel the Reaper (produced 1876)
(See above: A Village Tale).
Joan (produced 1876)
(Dramatized, without permission, from That Lass o’ Lowries, by Mrs. Hodgson Burnett).
Drink (produced 1879)
(Adapted from L’Assommoir by Emile Zola).
Single Heart and Double Face (produced 1882)
(A dramatic version of the story of the same name).
Notes
*THE BOX TUNNEL. By Charles Reade. Boston, U.S.A.
*GOLDEN CROWNS: Sunday Stories. By Charles Reade, D.C.L. Manchester: Tubbs and Brooke. 1 vol. 18mo.
*PEREGRINE PICKLE.