Documents of Performance: James Sheridan Knowles's Gift Album to Jemma Haigh: A Glimpse of Victorian Social Networks and Cultural Practices. Issue 2 (November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Long, Thomas Lawrence
• Is Part Of: Nineteenth century theatre and film. Volume 40:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Subjects: James Sheridan Knowles -- Virginius -- friendship album; Performing arts -- History -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Performing arts -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Performing arts -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Theater -- History -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Theater -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Theater and society -- Periodicals; Drama -- History and criticism -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Silent films -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; 306.48409034
• DOI: 10.7227/NCTF.40.2.4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-3727

Abstract

An autograph or friendship album given in 1843 by Victorian actor and playwright James Sheridan Knowles to Jemma Haigh, daughter of a Yorkshire wool merchant, offers a glimpse of social networks and cultural practices of early Victorian England. Knowles's inscription evokes his contemporaries' characterisation of his work as 'domestic'. The album also provides intriguing but fragmentary biographical evidence about the period's most respected playwright. In addition, the album shows some of the threads woven to create Victorian middle-class culture.