An Apology for the Life of Mr Colley Cibber, Comedian and Late Patentee of the Theatre Royal: A Modernized Text

Colley Cibber was a prolific actor and playwright in eighteenth-century London, often mocked for his work. This modernized text makes his enigmatic literary landmark accessible to a wide readership, exploring his career against the rich, turbulent background of London theatre.

Format: Hardback
Length: 460 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Colley Cibber, a prominent figure in eighteenth-century London, faced widespread mockery for his contributions to the theatre and as Poet Laureate. Despite this, he was a prolific actor and playwright, co-managing the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for a remarkable 24 years. In response to his critics, Cibber published "An Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber," which is often regarded as the first theatrical autobiography and even the first secular autobiography in English. However, the nature of this text remains a subject of debate. Is it an intimate confession, a cunning pose, a rambling narrative, or a purposeful polemic? Or perhaps, it could even be considered the first celebrity memoir? This modernized edition, accompanied by comprehensive notes and a detailed scholarly introduction, aims to make Cibber's enigmatic literary landmark accessible to a broader audience, allowing both specialists and general readers to explore his extraordinary career against the vibrant backdrop of London theatre in the eighteenth century.

Colley Cibber, a prominent figure in eighteenth-century London, faced widespread mockery for his contributions to the theatre and as Poet Laureate. Despite this, he was a prolific actor and playwright, co-managing the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for a remarkable 24 years. In response to his critics, Cibber published "An Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber," which is often regarded as the first theatrical autobiography and even the first secular autobiography in English. However, the nature of this text remains a subject of debate. Is it an intimate confession, a cunning pose, a rambling narrative, or a purposeful polemic? Or perhaps, it could even be considered the first celebrity memoir? This modernized edition, accompanied by comprehensive notes and a detailed scholarly introduction, aims to make Cibber's enigmatic literary landmark accessible to a broader audience, allowing both specialists and general readers to explore his extraordinary career against the vibrant backdrop of London theatre in the eighteenth century.

Weight: 780g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009098366