Record Number: 22803

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Sir Henry Bedingfield, Bart., to Alfred Tennyson, 20 August 1875: 'As a great admirer of your genius, I eagerly read your drama "Queen Mary," but was so surprised and pained at the ignoble part which is allotted to Sir Henry Bedingfield, that I cannot refrain from addressing you on the subject. I feel justified in so doing, for I am the direct descendant of Sir Henry [...] The millions who will read "Mary Tudor," or witness the play on the stage, will carry away the impresson that my ancestor was a vulgar yeoman in some way connected with the stables, whereas he was a man of ancient lineage, a trusted friend and servant of the Queen, who confided to him in time of danger the Lieutenancy of the Tower, and the custody of the Princess Elizabeth [continues] [...] I trust therefore to your high feeling of justice, that you will, if possible, strike out Sir Henry's name from future editions, or allott him a more dignified part on the stage, and one which will convey a more correct view of his character and position.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1875 and 20 Aug 1875

Country:

n/a

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Sir Henry Bedingfield, Bart.

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Royalty / aristocracy

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

n/a

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Alfred Tennyson

Title:

Queen Mary

Genre:

Drama, History, Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

22803

Source:

Print

Author:

Hallam Tennyson

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Memoir by His Son

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1897

Vol:

2

Page:

183-184

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Hallam Tennyson, Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Memoir by His Son (London, 1897), 2, p. 183-184, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=22803, accessed: 27 March 2023

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Additional Comments:

Source also gives Tennyson's reply (15 April 1876), following his receipt of Sir Henry's letter after a period spent abroad, in which he promises, 'in deference to your wishes,' to remove the character Sir Henry's name from the play, and to replace it in the playbill with 'Governor of Woodstock.' See p.184 in source.