The London Merchant
Full title The London Merchant, or The History of George Barnwell. A tragedy by George Lillo.
Contents
The original text
Originally billed as The Merchant; or the True History of George Barnwell, it was first performed at the Drury Lane Theatre, London on June 21st, 1731. It was his most famous play and would become one of the most popular plays of the 18th and early 19th centuries, and is still produced.
A number of 19th century books on the character appeared, all referring to him as an "apprentice".
The pathetic and interesting history of George Barnwell, the London 'prentice : founded on facts by Sarah Scudgell Wilkinson. Published in London [ca. 1804]
The pathetic history of George Barnwell, the London apprentice by Robert Cruikshank, , 1789-1856. Published: (1824)
The life of George Barnwell; or, The London apprentice of the last century by Edward Lytton Blanchard, published in London by Thomas White in 1830.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1830: Performed in Cape Town, South Africa by All the World's a Stage on 4 September under the title George Barnwell, or The London Apprentice, with Doctor Bolus (Daniel) as afterpiece.
Sources
http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/london_map/merchant_main.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_London_Merchant
F.C.L. Bosman, 1828: p 215
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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