Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1751-1816

The School for Scandal

Dublin, 1788

Sheridan had a brief but brilliant career as a play-
wright, his chief plays being all written within five
years. He was the son of an actor and his mother had
written several novels and plays, but he abandoned
playwriting for politics in 1780. Sheridan never au-
thorized the publication of *The School for Scandal*, but
the copy shown here is recognised as the earliest.

Shown on the right is the copy of the manuscript which
was sent to William Chetwynd who was "Examiner of all
Entertainments of the Stage" under Lord Chamberlain
so that it could be approved before it was enacted at
Drury Lane.

*The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library*