Dickens and the Drama. By S. J. Adair FitzGerald. (Chapman
and Hall. 6s. net.)—It was a doubtful matter whether Charles Dickens would be as actor or a writer. He actually wrote to the stage-manager of Covent Garden offering himself, received a favourable reply—he was to act anything he pleased of Charles Matthews's—but was hindered from going on the appointed day by a very bad cold and swelled face. Then his prospects as a reporter improved ; finally literature claimed him. But he always had a passion for the theatre, and would doubtless have climbed to the top if had given his life to the work. As an amateur he was far above all but the best professionals. One of the actor's gifts he had in perfection, the power of making up his features. No one who saw him make up as Jonas Chnzzlewit in his readings ever forgot that marvellous impersonation. Mr. FitzGerald tells us about his theatrical doings, and the narrative is highly interesting. The amateurs were a great force in those days. What a company was that which in September, 1845, gave Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour ! Among the names we see Mark Lemon, Dudley Costello, John Forster, Douglas Jerrold, John Leech, Frank Stone, and Gilbert Abbott A'Beckett. Then ho wrote plays; and he has furnished materials for a great number of dramatisations. The account of these occupies more than three-fourths of the volume. It makes curious reading, though it will not interest every one.
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