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Charles Reade (8 June 1814 – 11 April 1884) was a British novelist and dramatist, best known for the 1861 historical novel ''
The Cloister and the Hearth ''The Cloister and the Hearth'' (1861) is an historical novel by the British author Charles Reade. Set in the 15th century, it relates the travels of a young scribe and illuminator, Gerard Eliassoen, through several European countries. ''The C ...
''.


Life

Charles Reade was born at
Ipsden Ipsden is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire, about southeast of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, Wallingford. It is almost equidistant from Oxford and Reading, Berkshire, Reading, Berkshi ...
, Oxfordshire, to John Reade and Anne Marie Scott-Waring, and had at least four brothers. He studied at
Magdalen College, Oxford Magdalen College ( ) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1458 by Bishop of Winchester William of Waynflete. It is one of the wealthiest Oxford colleges, as of 2022, and ...
, taking his B.A. in 1835, and became a fellow of his college. He was subsequently dean of arts and vice-president, taking his degree of D.C.L. in 1847. His name was entered at
Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...
in 1836; he was elected Vinerian Fellow in 1842, and was called to the bar in 1843.Edwards, P.D. "Charles Reade." ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.'' He kept his fellowship at Magdalen all his life but, after taking his degree, he spent most of his time in London. William Winwood Reade, the influential historian, was his nephew.


Writings

Reade began his literary career as a dramatist, and he chose to have "dramatist" stand first in the list of his occupations on his
tombstone A gravestone or tombstone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. A marker set at the head of the grave may be called a headstone. An especially old or elaborate stone slab may be called a funeral stele, stela, or slab. The us ...
. As an author, he always had an eye to stage effect in scenes and situations as well as in dialogue. His first comedy, ''The Ladies' Battle'', appeared at the Olympic Theatre in May 1851. It was followed by ''Angela'' (1851), ''A Village Tale'' (1852), ''The Lost Husband'' (1852), and ''Gold'' (1853). But Reade's reputation was made by the two-act comedy, '' Masks and Faces'', in which he collaborated with
Tom Taylor Tom Taylor (19 October 1817 – 12 July 1880) was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch (magazine), ''Punch'' magazine. Taylor had a brief academic career, holding the professorship of English literatu ...
. It was produced in November 1852, and later was expanded into three acts. By the advice of the actress, Laura Seymour, he turned the play into a prose story which appeared in 1853 as ''
Peg Woffington Margaret Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760), was an Irish actress and socialite of the Georgian era. Early life Woffington was born of humble origins in Dublin, Ireland yet excelled in playing women from the upper classes. Her f ...
''. The same year he wrote '' Christie Johnstone'', a close study of Scottish fisher folk. In 1854 he produced, in conjunction with
Tom Taylor Tom Taylor (19 October 1817 – 12 July 1880) was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch (magazine), ''Punch'' magazine. Taylor had a brief academic career, holding the professorship of English literatu ...
, ''Two Loves and a Life'', and ''The King's Rival'', and, unaided, '' The Courier of Lyons'' (well known under its later title, ''The Lyons Mail'') and his adaptation of
Tobias Smollett Tobias George Smollett (bapt. 19 March 1721 – 17 September 1771) was a Scottish writer and surgeon. He was best known for writing picaresque novels such as ''The Adventures of Roderick Random'' (1748), ''The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'' ...
's ''Peregrine Pickle''. In the next year appeared ''Art'' (1855), afterwards known as ''Nance Oldfield''. He made his name as a novelist in 1856, when he published '' It Is Never Too Late to Mend'', a novel written to reform abuses in prison discipline and the treatment of criminals. The truth of some details was challenged, and Reade defended himself vigorously. Five more novels followed in quick succession: ''The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth'' (1857), ''White Lies'' (1857), ''Jack of all Trades'' (1858), ''The Autobiography of a Thief'' (1858), and ''Love Me Little, Love Me Long'' (1859). ''White Lies'' started as a translation of Auguste Maquet's play ''Le Château de Grantier.'' After managers declined the manuscript, Reade adapted the story, weaving it into a novel which was serialised in '' The London Journal'' and published in three volumes the same year. He produced an adaptation of this on stage as ''The Double Marriage'' in 1867. In 1861 Reade published what would become his most famous work, based on a few lines by the medieval humanist Erasmus about the life of his parents. The novel began life as a serial in ''Once a Week'' in 1859 under the title "A Good Fight", but when Reade disagreed with the proprietors of the magazine over some of the contentious subject matter (principally the unmarried pregnancy of the heroine), he abruptly curtailed the serialisation with a false happy ending. Reade continued to work on the novel and published it in 1861, thoroughly revised and extended, as ''
The Cloister and the Hearth ''The Cloister and the Hearth'' (1861) is an historical novel by the British author Charles Reade. Set in the 15th century, it relates the travels of a young scribe and illuminator, Gerard Eliassoen, through several European countries. ''The C ...
''. It became recognised as one of the most successful historical novels. Returning from the 15th century to contemporary English life, he next produced '' Hard Cash'' (originally published as ''Very Hard Cash'') (1863), in which he highlighted the abuses of private
lunatic asylum The lunatic asylum, insane asylum or mental asylum was an institution where people with mental illness were confined. It was an early precursor of the modern psychiatric hospital. Modern psychiatric hospitals evolved from and eventually replace ...
s. Three more such novels followed: ''Foul Play'' (1869), in which he exposed the iniquities of ship-knackers, and paved the way for the labours of
Samuel Plimsoll Samuel Plimsoll (10 February 1824 – 3 June 1898) was a British politician and social reformer, now best remembered for having devised the Plimsoll line (a line on a ship's hull indicating the maximum safe draught, and therefore the minimum ...
; ''
Put Yourself in His Place ''Put Yourself in His Place'' is a 1912 American silent short drama based on an 1870 English novel by Charles Reade. The film was adapted and directed by Theodore Marston, and stars William Garwood and Marguerite Snow in the lead roles. P ...
'' (1870), in which he dealt with trade unions; and ''A Woman-Hater'' (1877), in which he continued his commentary on trade unions while also tackling the topic of women doctors. ''The Wandering Heir'' (1875), of which he also wrote a version for the stage, was suggested by the Tichborne Case. Reade also published three elaborate studies of character: ''
Griffith Gaunt ''Griffith Gaunt, or Jealousy'' is an 1866 sensation novel by Charles Reade. A best-selling book in its day, it was thought by Reade to be his best novel, but critics and posterity have generally preferred '' The Cloister and the Hearth'' (1861 ...
'' (1866), ''
A Terrible Temptation ''A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day'' is an 1871 sensation novel by Charles Reade. It first appeared serially in '' Cassell's Magazine'' in England from March 4 to August 26, 1871.(17 August 1871)A Terrible Temptation (review) ''The N ...
'' (1871), ''A Simpleton'' (1873). He rated the first of these as his best novel. At intervals throughout his literary career, he sought to gratify his dramatic ambition, hiring a theatre and engaging a company for the production of his plays. An example of his persistence was seen in the case of ''Foul Play''. He wrote this in 1869 in combination with
Dion Boucicault Dionysius Lardner "Dion" Boucicault (né Boursiquot; 26 December 1820 – 18 September 1890) was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the ...
with a view to stage adaptation. The play was more or less a failure; but he produced another version alone in 1877, under the title of ''A Scuttled Ship'', which was a notable failure. His greatest success as a dramatist attended his last attempt—''Drink''—an adaptation of
Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, ; ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of Naturalism (literature), naturalism, and an important contributor to ...
's ''L'Assommoir'', produced in 1879, and made into the film ''
Drink A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothie ...
'' in 1917. In that year his friend Laura Seymour, who might have been his mistress and had kept house for him since 1854, died. Reade's health failed from that time. On his death, he left behind him a completed novel, ''A Perilous Secret'', which showed he was still skilled in the arts of weaving a complicated plot and devising thrilling situations. Reade was an amateur of the violin, and among his works is an essay on
Cremona Cremona ( , , ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po (river), Po river in the middle of the Po Valley. It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local city a ...
violins with the title, "A Lost Art Revived." Reade is buried alongside Laura Seymour, in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church,
Willesden Willesden () is an area of north-west London, situated 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Charing Cross. It is historically a parish in the county of Middlesex that was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Willesden in 1933; it has formed ...
, in north-west London. Reade subtitled a number of his novels "A matter-of-fact romance"; this referred to his practice of basing his novels largely on newspaper cuttings, which he began collecting for this purpose in 1848. He also conducted his own research, observing prisons personally, for example, as well as borrowing at times heavily from other novelists' works. He admitted the public freely to the secrets of his method of composition: he spoke about his method in his prefaces, he introduced himself into one of his novels, as Dr Rolfe in ''A Terrible Temptation'', and in his will, he left his workshop and his accumulation of materials open for inspection for two years after his death. The collection was extensive and well-organized, and he had planned to use it as a basis for an unrealized work in "the wisdom and folly of nations," dealing with social, political and domestic details. Reade's novels were popular, and he was among England's highest-paid novelists. However, many libraries refused to carry his works on the grounds that they were indecent.


Reputation

Reade fell out of fashion by the turn of the century—"it is unusual to meet anyone who has voluntarily read him," wrote
George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to a ...
in an essay on ReadeOrwell, George. "Charles Reade." http://www.george-orwell.org/Charles_Reade/0.html—but during the 19th century Reade was one of Britain's most popular novelists. He was not highly regarded by critics. The following assessment by Justin McCarthy, writing in 1872, is typical:
A strong, healthy air of honest and high purpose breathes through nearly all the stories. An utter absence of cant, affectation, and sham distinguishes them. A surprising variety of descriptive power, at once bold, broad, and realistic is one of their great merits. Mr. Reade can describe a sea-fight, a storm, the forging of a horseshoe, the ravages of an inundation, the trimming of a lady's dress, the tuning of a piano, with equal accuracy and apparent zest. . . . Mr. Reade wants no quality which is necessary to make a powerful story-teller, while he is distinguished from all mere story-tellers by the fact that he has some great social object to serve in nearly everything he undertakes to detail. More than this I do not believe he is, nor, despite the evidences of something yet higher which were given in 'Christie Johnstone' and 'The Cloister and the Hearth,' do I think he ever could have been. He is a magnificent specimen of the modern special correspondent, endowed with the additional and unique gift of a faculty for throwing his report into the form of a thrilling story. But it requires something more than this, something higher than this, to make a great novelist whom the world will always remember. Mr. Reade is unsurpassed in the second class of English novelists, but he does not belong to the front rank. His success has been great in its way, but it is for an age and not for time.
The author George Orwell summed up Reade's attraction as "the same charm as one finds in R. Austin Freeman's detective stories or Lieutenant-Commander Gould's collections of curiosities—the charm of useless knowledge," going on to say that
Reade was a man of what one might call penny-encyclopaedic learning. He possessed vast stocks of disconnected information which a lively narrative gift allowed him to cram into books which would at any rate pass as novels. If you have the sort of mind that takes a pleasure in dates, lists, catalogues, concrete details, descriptions of processes, junk-shop windows and back numbers of the ''Exchange and Mart,'' the sort of mind that likes knowing exactly how a medieval catapult worked or just what objects a prison cell of the eighteen-forties contained, then you can hardly help enjoying Reade.
During his career, the prolific Reade was involved in several literary feuds involving accusations of plagiarism. He strongly defended himself, but invoked standards on literary borrowing that are looser than those of today. Reade is frequently discussed in studies of evolving attitudes toward plagiarism. Reade is credited with the quote: "Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny". These days it is often adapted to:
"Mind your thoughts for they become your words; mind your words for they become your actions; mind your actions for they become your habits; mind your habits for they become your character; mind your character for it becomes your destiny."
(This was used in the film, '' The Iron Lady'' (2011), spoken by
Meryl Streep Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Known for her versatility and adept accent work, she has been described as "the best actress of her generation". She has received numerous accolades throughout her career ...
playing
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...
, the former Prime Minister.) Reade's newspaper cuttings, notebooks and correspondence are held a
The London Library.


Marriage and family

Reade and his late wife had an adopted daughter. He cut off relations with her after she eloped at age sixteen with an actor. After her husband abandoned her, she worked as an actress for a number of years. She performed 2000 times in a production of Reade's '' It Is Never Too Late to Mend.'' She wound up destitute in a workhouse in Kent.


Allusions

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the ...
's lyric "It’s never too late to Mendelssohn...", which appears in both '' Oh, Kay!'' and '' Lady in the Dark'', is a play on the title of Reade's book.
John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman, (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architect ...
's poem "In Willesden Churchyard" includes a reference to "Laura Seymour's grave-/ 'So long the loyal counsellor and friend'/Of that Charles Reade whose coffin lies with hers/Was she his mistress?" followed by a long imagined passage about their possible relationship.


Works

* ''Gold!'' (1853, play) * '' Masks and Faces'' (1852, play) * ''
Peg Woffington Margaret Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760), was an Irish actress and socialite of the Georgian era. Early life Woffington was born of humble origins in Dublin, Ireland yet excelled in playing women from the upper classes. Her f ...
'' (1853, novel) * '' Christie Johnstone'' (1853, novel) * '' The Courier of Lyons'' (1854, play. Also known as ''The Lyons Mail'') * ''Clouds and Sunshine and Arts'' (1855) * '' It Is Never Too Late to Mend'' (1856, novel) * ''The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth'' (1857) * ''White Lies'' (1857, novel) * ''The Box Tunnel'' (1857, short story. Only published in book form in America) * ''Autobiography of a Thief'' (1858, novelette about a train robbery) * (novelette about the elephant Mademoiselle D'Jeck) * ''Love Me Little, Love Me Long'' (1859, novel) * ''A Good Fight and Other Tales'' (1859) * ''The Eighth Commandment'' (1860) * ''
The Cloister and the Hearth ''The Cloister and the Hearth'' (1861) is an historical novel by the British author Charles Reade. Set in the 15th century, it relates the travels of a young scribe and illuminator, Gerard Eliassoen, through several European countries. ''The C ...
'' (1861) * '' Hard Cash'' (1863, novel) * ''
Griffith Gaunt ''Griffith Gaunt, or Jealousy'' is an 1866 sensation novel by Charles Reade. A best-selling book in its day, it was thought by Reade to be his best novel, but critics and posterity have generally preferred '' The Cloister and the Hearth'' (1861 ...
; or, Jealousy'' (1866, novel) * '' Foul Play'' (1869, novel) * ''
Put Yourself in His Place ''Put Yourself in His Place'' is a 1912 American silent short drama based on an 1870 English novel by Charles Reade. The film was adapted and directed by Theodore Marston, and stars William Garwood and Marguerite Snow in the lead roles. P ...
'' (1870, novel) * ''
A Terrible Temptation ''A Terrible Temptation: A Story of To-Day'' is an 1871 sensation novel by Charles Reade. It first appeared serially in '' Cassell's Magazine'' in England from March 4 to August 26, 1871.(17 August 1871)A Terrible Temptation (review) ''The N ...
'' (1871, novel) * ''Shilly-Shally'' (1872, unauthorized stage adaptation of
Anthony Trollope Anthony Trollope ( ; 24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882) was an English novelist and civil servant of the Victorian era. Among the best-known of his 47 novels are two series of six novels each collectively known as the ''Chronicles of Barsetshire ...
's ''
Ralph the Heir ''Ralph the Heir'' is a novel by Anthony Trollope, originally published in 1871. Although Trollope described it as "one of the worst novels I have written",Trollope, Anthony (1883)''An Autobiography'', chapter 19.Retrieved 2010-05-19. it was well ...
'')Super, R. H. (1988)
''The Chronicler of Barsetshire''.
University of Michigan Press
pp. 308–12.
Retrieved 19 May 2010.
* ''A Simpleton'' (1873) * ''The Wandering Heir'' (1873) * ''Trade Malice'' (1875) * ''A Woman-Hater'' (1877) * ''Golden Crowns'' (1877) * ''Drink'' (1879) *'' The Lyons Mail'' (1877) * ''Single Heart and Double Face'' (1884, novel) * ''A Perilous Secret'' (1884, novel)


Notes


References

* Diamond, Michael (2003). ''Victorian Sensation, Or, the Spectacular, the Shocking, and the Scandalous in Nineteenth-Century Britain.'' London: Anthem , pp. 209–211,236–239 * Reade, Charles L., and Compton Reade (1887)
''Charles Reade, Dramatist, Novelist, Journalist: A Memoir.''
London: Chapman and Hall. * The entry contains a detailed assessment of his methods by the anonymous author. * *


Further reading

* Buchanan, Robert (1887)
"Charles Reade: A Souvenir."
In: ''A Look Round Literature.'' London: Ward & Downey, pp. 308–313. * Coleman, John (1903)
''Charles Reade as I Knew Him''
London: Treherne & Company. * Dawson, William James (1905)
"Charles Reade."
In: ''The Makers of English Fiction''. New York: F.H. Revell Co., pp. 164–178. * Elwin, Malcolm (1931). ''Charles Reade. A Biography.'' London: Jonathan Cape. * Howells, William Dean (1895)
"Charles Reade."
In: ''My Literary Passions.'' New York: Harper & Brothers, pp. 191–197. * Murray, David Christie (1897)
"Charles Reade."
In: ''My Contemporaries in Fiction.'' London: Chatto & Windus, pp. 16–31. * Purnell, Thomas (1871)
"Mr. Charles Reade."
In: ''Dramatists of the Present Day.'' London: Chapman & Hall, pp. 127–140. * Quiller-Couch, A.T. (1896)
"Charles Reade."
In: ''Adventures in Criticism.'' London: Cassell & Company, pp. 129–136. * Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1886)
"Charles Reade."
In: ''Miscellanies''. London: Chatto & Windus, pp. 271–302.


External links

* * * * Charles Reade Collection. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Charles Reade Collection
at the
Harry Ransom Center The Harry Ransom Center, known as the Humanities Research Center until 1983, is an archive, library, and museum at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in the collection of literary and cultural artifacts from the Americas and Europe ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Reade, Charles 19th-century English novelists Victorian novelists 1814 births 1884 deaths Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford Members of Lincoln's Inn English male dramatists and playwrights English male novelists 19th-century English dramatists and playwrights English historical novelists Writers of historical fiction set in the Middle Ages English male short story writers Writers from Oxfordshire 19th-century English short story writers 19th-century English essayists 19th-century English male writers Victorian short story writers Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period English male essayists People from Willesden People from Middlesex (before 1889) Writers from London English social reformers British prison reformers Sensation novelists