Synopses & Reviews
Queen Victoria was both Supreme Head of the Church of England and an ardent playgoer. At the beginning of her reign considerable antagonism existed between the Church and the theater, but by the end the reconciliation was almost complete. This book explores the process in terms of trends in religious thought (the Oxford Movement and Christian-Socialism), other contemporary developments such as urbanization, education and women's emancipation and the principal protagonists: clergymen, dramatists, actors and actresses.
Synopsis
At the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign considerable antagonism existed between the Church and the theatre, but by the end reconciliation was almost complete. This book explores the process in terms of trends in religious thought, other contemporary social developments and the role of clergymen, dramatists, actors and actresses.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 242-256) and index.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introit; 1. Heralds of change; 2. Censure and censorship; 3. Two professions; 4. Clerical attitudes; 5 Self-improvement; 6. Shakespeare; 7. From Passion Play to pantomime; 8. The ancient universities; 9. Actresses; 10. Headlam, hell and Hole; 11. Henry Arthur Jones and Wilson Barrett; 12. Henry Irving; Epilogue; References; Index.