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Watts Phillips (1825-1874), playwright and novelist whose play 'The Dead Heart' inspired Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities' [FrederBiblio.com

Watts Phillips playwright and novelist. Autograph Letter Signed from Paris to the actor Frederick Vining discussing plans for writing his play ‘The Huguenot Captain’ which will be ‘my best piece’ and in which their interests ‘are identical'.

réf. 2644618 August 1863; 29 Rue de Penthièvre. See his entry and that of the Vining family in the Oxford DNB as well as well as his sister Emma’s memoir. 3pp 12mo with the last page written lengthwise. Bifolium. Text clear and entire but in fair condition only on aged and worn paper with strip of tape from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf and short closed tears at foot of both leaves and tape repair. Folded once. Written in feverish style: one word is underlined seven times. Addressed to ‘My dear Vining’ and signed ‘Watts Phillips’. Regarding the play he is working on ‘The Huguenot Captain’ which would be produced in London in 1866 with Vining in the lead role he is writing ‘in haste to save post’ and to say that he will do his best to fulfil Vining’s ‘prophecy’ that ‘the “Captain” ill be my best piece’. For both their sakes he will ‘spare no pains to make it so - but - oh! mon ami! - how about the time. It is not a piece to be written helter-skelter. We must take the shine out of that Duke’s motto - and to do so requires much care and earnest thought’. Vining will require the piece by October of that year sic and he will ‘forward it act by act as rapidly as possible pushing on with so much haste as is consistent with the merits of a piece which I thing sic will prove a great ultimate advantage to you and to me’. He asks to be given time and for Vining to ‘stir me up by letters for as I see your anxiety grow my imagination will quicken’. He continues: ‘Let no time be lost in returning the Plot. I shall set to work at once in fact I am off to day to get some Callot sketches for the dances. / We shall have a Success I feel assured - but - dont hurry me more than is absolutely necessary’. Vining can always let him ‘know the truth’ as their ‘interests in such a matter as this are identical’. He ends by reiterating: ‘Depent upon me - but - as last words - remember “as much time as possible!” / Hurry return of plot ! ! !’ 18 August 1863; 29 Rue de Penthièvre. unknown

Richard M. Ford Ltd · Royaume-Uni56,00 £GB≈ 66,88 €

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