Switch to English Switch to French

The Open University  |   Study at the OU  |   About the OU  |   Research at the OU  |   Search the OU

Listen to this page  |   Accessibility

the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
  RED International Logo

RED Australia logo


RED Canada logo
RED Netherlands logo
RED New Zealand logo

Listings for Author:  

John Vanbrugh

 

Click here to select all entries:

 


  

(Sir) John Vanbrugh : A Journey to London, being part of a comedy...

Din'd in own room alone... Read 'A Journy to London', Sir J Vanburg's -part of what is made 'The Provoked Husband' by Cibber, vastly mended by him I think.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile      Print: Book

  

John Vanbrugh : The Provok'd Wife

Among entries made in 1926 in E. M. Forster's Commonplace Book is a passage from Vanbrugh, The Provok'd Wife III.i (opening '[italics]Virtue[end italics], alas, is no more like the thing that is called so than 'tis like vice itself').

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Edward Morgan Forster      Print: Book

  

John Vanbrugh : Esop; a comedy

'[Having given her verses 'A Tale for the Times'] This wild irregular Measure is a sort of Favourite with me, I learnt it in Vanbrugh's Esop - a sweet Comedy though impracticable upon the Stage'

Century:      Reader/Listener/Group: Hester Lynch Thrale      Print: Book

  

John Vanbrugh : Provoked Husband, The

'The two [italics] wittiest [end italics] things in our Language in Verse & Prose are Dr Young's Conjectures on Original Composition I think, and Dr Swift's Ballad on the South Sea. The two Tragedies which go nearest one's Heart I think - in our Language I mean - are Southern's Fatal Marriage and Lillo's Fatal Curiosity. The two best Comic Scenes in our Language according to my Taste are the Scene between Squire Richard & Myrtilla in the Provoked Husband, and that between Sir Joseph Wittol, Nol Bluff and Sharper in the Old Batchelor - not the kicking scene but the friendly one. The two best [italics] Declamatory [end italics] Scenes where the Sentiments and Language are most perfect, seem to be the Scene between Juba and Syphax in Addison's Cato, & that between the two Ladies in Johnson's Irene. I know that both are unDramatic, the latter more peculiarly so, than ever was, or ever ought to have been hazarded - but for Language & Sentiment it is most Superb. - Superieure as the French say. Johnson says the finest Tragic Scene in our Language, for Drama sentiment, Language, Power over the Heart, & every Requisite for Theatre or Closet, is the Tomb Scene in the Mourning Bride. [italics] I [end italics] think, that trying to be [italics] every [end italics] thing it escapes being [italics] anything [end italics]'

Century:      Reader/Listener/Group: Hester Lynch Thrale      Print: Book

 

Click here to select all entries:

 

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design