New-York tribune., 1883-12-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TuELIFE OF HENRY IRVING.

,,rxpv IRVING Biographical Sketch. BY AuSrs
RseRETos. svo pI. 1876. scr'oner q "enof~
ur Rreretons tasteful and comprehensive sketeh
20 the professional career of Henry Irymg' "oich
was pnblshed a short time ago Ia Lonoon oS MI
nov;d Roeue. has been reprinted here under an
agreement with the author, by Messrs. Scrloner
wexford: and the American reprint ls even manu-
.omar volume thin the English original. MI. irving
is iusk NOW so much and widely an OBJECT Oh
nh;c interest in this country that the story vi ns
life cannot fail to be eagerly sought ms lheDor
was authorized by himself, and IL may 'ne1o-
fore be accepted the standard "orh
on this subject The author, Mr' AUSTIN
Rrereton, is young journalist Of London man OF
trnth taste fine talent, industry and gentle leeI-
;no and of special experience In the theatrlc' "o'u
For some time past Mr.. Brereton has been employed
ss the assistant to Mr. Clement Scott' Oh 'ne
Jboot,e magazine and Of The Telegraph,-one OF the
r,ost conious and trenchant, well as one OF the
oblest of contemporary writers upon the stage
and in this and kindred positions lac has accomplish
"a mnch useful work. The volume for 1882 OF that
conital series called Dramatic Notes-which givesah
anome of the history of current theatrcals III Lon
don. year by year-was written by Mr. Brereton.
In this sketch of Henry Irving the blog-
rainier has pursued the only course that
is practicable for the writer OF the Heihon
nj man still living and still In the Puohc eaho
He has written from the standpoint Oh syihPa."S
and honest admiration, simply and sensiby, neither
Welding TO his own enthusiasm nor STRIVING 10 naAo
a d;snlav of his critical faculties and doctrines.
Tho aim has been to present, i'll terse style and
condensed form all the essential facts and docu-
,ants that constitute describe or Illustrate MT NV
;nps career and the biographer has thus produceda
useful and interesting work. showing MS suoJecV
and not himself. Mr.. Irving, he tells u.s. was born
February 9, 1888, at Keinton, near Oiastoh-
hurry. in Somersetshire, England, but passed
his childhood in Cornwall, of which county
his mother MISS Behenna, was native
He was an only son. MIR. Brcretons account
of the early life of his subject is especially treSh
and nleasing both in the brightness of its picture
of an original, ambitious, spirited lad and in the
literary skill with which it is written. Mr. lrvlngs
advent an the stage was made in 1856, at Sunder-
land and ON September 24, 1859, he made his
first appearance in London; but 1t was not til lSoo
that he settled permanently in the BRUSH capltai'
The first ten years of his professional! career were
fp of hard work and of yciSsitudes as is uSuai IN
the life of an actor. Then circumstances began 10
crvstalize more favorably around him, as commonly
happens when an earnest character fulhlS Itseit Ia
steadfast persistent development aad industry
In 1871, Mr.. Irving was engaged by MIR. Bateman
at the Lyceum Theatre, and there he MADE his brl-
liant hits with 4lfei Jlgl and TIe Bells and had
various later successes with the London public.
among them being Charles l. Pichelieu and Hamlet
Here also he restored Shakcspeare's Richard ILL.,
to the English stage-as had previously been done
in America by Edwin Booth. an actor whom Mr..
Irving first saw by the way, in 1860, at Man
chester and whose influence upon his taste and
STYLE was more considerable than the especial fol-
lowers of Mr.. Irving are likely now
70 concede In 1873 Mr.. Irving became
MANAGER of the Lyceum Theatre and that position
he has ever since occupied, with honor to himself
and great benefit TO the stage and to the people OF
his time Mr.. Brereton says that Mir Irving has
acted $40 parts first and last, which certainly is
remarkable record of labor in a career OF twenty
seven wears The biographer gives also, the casts OF
the Tvceum productions, together with much other
interesting theatrc material, and his book is sup
Piled with thorough index and embelllshed With
seventeen excellent fullpage portraits OF Mr. Try
ing in character. 1t is thorough piece OF work,
as far as it goes and will be Of great assistance to
Thoughtful readers who would rightly appreciate
the impression that Henry Irving has made upon
his time.