Dibdin

The Reminiscences of Thomas Dibdin of the Theatres Royal Covent-Garden Drury-lane Haymarket Etc First Edition Auto-Biography Fine Leather Binding

1827Best.-Nr. 019988London: Henry Colburn 1827. FIRST EDITION. Two volumes complete. Original full calf leather binding with gilt rolled edges. The books have been rebacked in modern calf leather preserving and matching the original boards. Moderate wear to the boards. Lacking the half titles as is usual with this set. Modestly foxed. No previous owner's names not exlibrary. Overall in GOOD condition. Photos available upon request. Thomas John Dibdin March 21 1771 September 16 1841 was an English dramatist and song-writer. Dibdin was the son of Charles Dibdin a song-writer and theatre manager and of Mrs Davenet an actress whose real name was Harriet Pitt. He was apprenticed to his maternal uncle a London upholsterer and later to William Rawlins afterwards sheriff of London. He summoned his second master unsuccessfully for rough treatment; and after a few years of service he ran away to join a company of country players. From 1789 to 1795 he played all sorts of parts; he worked as a scene painter at Liverpool in 1791; and during this period he composed more than 1000 songs. His first work as a dramatist was Something New followed by The Mad Guardian in 1795. He returned to London in 1795 having married two years before; and in the winter of 1798-99 The Jew and the Doctor was produced at Theatre Royal Covent Garden. From this time he contributed a very large number of comedies operas farces etc. to the public entertainment. Some of these brought immense popularity to the writer and immense profits to the theatres. It is stated that the pantomime of Mother Goose 1807 produced more than £20000 for the management at Covent Garden theatre and the High-mettled Racer adapted as a pantomime from his father's play £18000 at Astley's. Dibdin was prompter and pantomime writer at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 1816 when he took over the Surrey Theatre. This venture proved disastrous and he became bankrupt. After this he was manager of the Haymarket Theatre but without his old success and his last years were passed in comparative poverty. In 1827 he published two volumes of Reminiscences; and at the time of his death he was preparing an edition of his father's sea songs for which a small sum was allowed him weekly by the lords of the admiralty. Of his own songs "The Oak Table" and "The Snug Little Island" were popular at the time. First Edition. Full Calf Leather. Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Hardcover. Henry Colburn Hardcover

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