A Book of the Play

A Book of the Play, by Dutton Cook, is subtitled Studies and Illustrations of Histrionic Story, Life, and Character. The preface to the third edition says the book, as explained in the preface to its first edition, published in 1876, is designed to serve and entertain those interested in the transactions of the Theatre. The preface adds that the author has not pretended to set forth anew a formal and complete History of the Stage, and that the author's object has rather been to collect and record certain details and curiosities of histrionic life and character, past and present.

Mr. Beard, the manager, replies with great firmness that operas had never been performed at such low prices as at his theatre, that his expenses were very great, and, he urges, that the public should not grudge the full price of admission. Kemble writes that he has hit on nothing he can think of better than the story of King Arthur and Merlin, and the Saxon Wizards.