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At the Circulating Library

A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901

A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901

Author: John Coleman

Author: John Coleman (1831–1904)

Biography: John Coleman was born in 1831. He began life an apprentice to as an architect before turning to acting at fifteen years of age. Coleman acted in a number of plays on the provincial circuit, then managed his own companies in Sheffield and Leeds. In 1876, he moved to London where he managed the Queen's Theatre, Olympic Theatre, and Drury Lane Theatre in succession. Coleman was a prolific playwright: in addition to his own plays, he adapted a few of Charles Reade's novels for the stage and he co-wrote plays with Robert Buchanan. In addition, he wrote several novels, three of which focus on the stage: Curly: An Actor's Story (1885), The Rival Queens: A Story of the Modern Stage (1887), The White Ladye of Rosemount: A Story of the Modern Stage (1890), and Wife--yet no Wife (1892), a sensationalistic novel. Coleman wrote three memoirs: Players and Playwrights I have known (1888), Charles Reade as I knew him (1903), and Fifty Years of an Actor's Life (1904). He died in 1904.

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References: W.D. Adams, A Dictionary of the Drama (1904)

Fiction Titles:

  1. Curly: An Actor's Story.  1 vol.  London: Chatto and Windus, 1885.
  2. Gladys' Peril.  1 vol.  Bristol: Arrowsmith, 1886.
  3. The Rival Queens: A Story of the Modern Stage.  3 vol.  London: Remington, 1887.
  4. The White Ladye of Rosemount: A Story of the Modern Stage.  1 vol.  London: Hutchinson, 1889.
  5. Wife--yet no Wife: A Story of To-day.  3 vol.  London: H. J. Drane, 1892.