Autograph letter signed : London, to J.A. Overs, 1841 Oct. 22.

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Autograph letter signed : London, to J.A. Overs, 1841 Oct. 22.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/475581760

Noting that Dickens has had Overs' letter [to William Macready] read to him, and that he strongly disapproves of it for three reasons: first, that it is inconsiderate to address three sides of foolscap to a gentleman who receives three or four score letters every day; second, that Overs vaunts his independence too much and "flourish[s] it rather unnecessarily;" and third, "that the whole of that paragraph about wives and children, and the wet and cold, is presumptuous and impertinent." Recognizing Overs' decision to leave Macready's employment, referencing "the right of every man to do his best for himself," but noting that Overs' letter "is in execrable taste, and not at all becoming," and that Dickens looks upon this as a matter of fact, "and not a matter of opinion." Mentioning that Dickens "saw in five minutes the other night ... that [Overs] would not stay at the Theatre a month" and is not surprised at his decision. Criticizing Overs' "working [his] ideas of Mr. Macready's character out of the wretched materials presented to [his] view, which would be well enough in a man who could neither read nor write, but is quite beneath [Overs]."

1 item (3 p.) ; 18.2 cm.

Pierpont Morgan Library.

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7582114

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jn025d (person)

Epithet: novelist British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000429.0x0002c9 English writer. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Office of All the Year Round, 26 Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C., to Frederick Lehmann, 1863 Nov. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270125432 English novelist and publisher. From the description of ALS : Broadstairs, Kent, to Mr. Cullenford, 18...

Overs, John

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6445twx (person)

Macready, William Charles, 1793-1873

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k078nk (person)

English actor, recognized as perhaps the greatest English character actor of his day. He was especially noted for his Shakespearean roles. From the description of Letter, 1842. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122391814 William Charles Macready was a tragedian. From the description of Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1821-1849, n.d. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155886139 William Charles Macready was an English stage manager and actor...