Difference between revisions of "Thomas Betterton 1635-1710"

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====Books====
 
====Books====
Betterton's library was [[auction::auctioned]] in [[location of auction::London]] after his death; a sale catalogue survives from  [[date of auction::24.8.1710]], and newspaper advertisements suggest that a further sale took place in December 1710, with no surviving catalogue.  The August catalogue contains (546 lots, plus [[subject::prints]] and [[subject::paintings]], divided mainly by format, largely in [[language::English]], but including a number of [[language::French]] and [[language::Italian]] books; the catalogue has been edited by David Roberts (see below).
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Betterton's library was [[auction::auctioned]] in [[location of auction::London]] after his death; a sale catalogue survives from  [[date of auction::24.8.1710]], and newspaper advertisements suggest that a further sale took place in December 1710, with no surviving catalogue.  The August catalogue contains (546 lots, plus [[format::prints]] and [[format::paintings]], divided mainly by format, largely in [[language::English]], but including a number of [[language::French]] and [[language::Italian]] books; the catalogue has been edited by David Roberts (see below).
  
 
====Characteristic Markings====
 
====Characteristic Markings====

Revision as of 23:20, 9 August 2020

Thomas BETTERTON 1635-1710

Biographical Note

Born in Westminster, son of Matthew Betterton, under-cook to Charles I. After a period of apprenticeship to a bookseller, possibly John Rhodes, he became an actor, first appearing on the stage around 1660;he joined the Duke's Company, beconing its co-manager in 1668. In 1682 he led a merger with the King's Company; the new United Company continued for a decade or so, until Betterton and others broke away in 1695 to create a new group based at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. He is widely recognised as a leading actor-manager of his generation, who was impressive on stage but also a leading figure in developing theatre as a business; he wrote, or adapted, numerous plays himself.

Books

Betterton's library was auctioned in London after his death; a sale catalogue survives from 24.8.1710, and newspaper advertisements suggest that a further sale took place in December 1710, with no surviving catalogue. The August catalogue contains (546 lots, plus prints and paintings, divided mainly by format, largely in English, but including a number of French and Italian books; the catalogue has been edited by David Roberts (see below).

Characteristic Markings

Roberts notes that Betterton did not apparently mark his books, and none can be identified today; he speculates that some of his French books may today be in the British Library.

Sources