“HER ACTING, INDEED, WAS HEART IN ACTION”

BOADEN, James. The Life of Mrs. Jordan. London: Edward Bull, 1831. Two volumes. Octavo, mid-20th century full green morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $850.

First edition of Boaden’s biography of one of the most popular comedic actresses on the late 18th-century English stage, handsomely bound.

"As an actress in comedy Mrs. Jordan can have had few equals" (DNB). After a successful debut in 1785 as Peggy in David Garrick's The Country Girl Jordan continued "to delight audiences in such parts as Priscilla Tomboy in The Romp… as well as Miss Hoyden in Sheridan's A Trip to Scarborough, Sir Harry Wildair in Farquhar's The Constant Couple and Miss Prue in Congreve's Love for Love" (Hartnoll, 447). Dramatist and journalist Boaden, in his later years, "applied himself to the writing of biographies of celebrated actors and actresses," including this life of Dorothea (or Dorothy) Jordan. "These memoirs are very pleasant reading; the style is easy and genial, and the author is careful to state his facts with accuracy" (DNB). With frontispiece portrait and folding autograph facsimile. Extra-illustrated with 80 plates (including one folding autograph facsimile), including portraits of many leading thespians of the day in character. Bookplates.

Closed tear to folding facsimile. Occasional light foxing. Light expert reinforcement to joints, inner hinges and headcap. An near-fine copy, handsomely bound.