James Love (poet)
Encyclopedia
James Love was the pseudonym
of British poet, playwright and actor James Dance. He is famous within sporting circles for his Cricket: An Heroic Poem (1744), whose line "The strokes re-echo o'er the spacious ground" has been quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary
. Its subtitle reads thus:
On 4 July 1745, the Daily Advertiser advertised it at 1/-. A footnote to the publication adds that it was "[p]rinted for W Bickerton at the Gazette in the Temple Exchange near the Inner Temple Gate, Fleet Street."
, who worked as an architect and city surveyor, Love was himself a cricketer, being a member of Richmond Cricket Club, Surrey
. Richmond was a leading club in the 1740s and Love may have represented Surrey
too. However, no details have survived of his playing career.
He was also likely the founder of the Theatre Royal in Richmond upon Thames
, which he managed from 1766 to 1773. In 1763, at Drury Lane
in London, he played the role of Falstaff
, for which he became best known as an actor, his authorial pseudonym serving also as his stage name. He performed, too, in both Dublin and Edinburgh
, of which he was a sometime manager. Invited to Theatre Royal
, Drury Lane
in 1762, he retained a connection to it for the rest of his life.
As a writer, Love met success with such Rome-inspired Pantomimes as The Witches; or, Harlequin Cherokee (1762
), The Rites of Hecate; or, Harlequin from the Moon (1763
) and The Hermit; or, Harlequin at Rhodes (1766
), in addition to Cricket. His earliest work was Pamela (1742
).
, who took on the same occupation as his father. It is probable that both the Younger and the Elder helped to construct the Richmond Theatre. According to Dorothy Stroud, "references to the building are vague and two of them, while agreeing as to sponsors, differ as to the name of the designer. A third gives it to [David] Garrick
and it is evident that there was a good deal of confusion as to the various participants."
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of British poet, playwright and actor James Dance. He is famous within sporting circles for his Cricket: An Heroic Poem (1744), whose line "The strokes re-echo o'er the spacious ground" has been quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
. Its subtitle reads thus:
Illustrated with the Critical Observations of Scriblerus Maximus. To which is Added an Epilogue, Call'd Bucks Have at Ye All. Spoken by Mr. King, at the Theatre Royal in Dublin, in the Character of Ranger, in the Suspicious Husband
On 4 July 1745, the Daily Advertiser advertised it at 1/-. A footnote to the publication adds that it was "[p]rinted for W Bickerton at the Gazette in the Temple Exchange near the Inner Temple Gate, Fleet Street."
Life and work
Son of George Dance the ElderGeorge Dance the Elder
George Dance the Elder was an English architect of the 18th century. He served as the City of London surveyor and architect from 1735 until his death....
, who worked as an architect and city surveyor, Love was himself a cricketer, being a member of Richmond Cricket Club, Surrey
Richmond Cricket Club, Surrey
Richmond Cricket Club was based in Richmond, Surrey and was a leading club during the 18th century, its team taking part in several major cricket matches. Its home venue was at Richmond Green.-Earliest mentions:...
. Richmond was a leading club in the 1740s and Love may have represented Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
too. However, no details have survived of his playing career.
He was also likely the founder of the Theatre Royal in Richmond upon Thames
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
, which he managed from 1766 to 1773. In 1763, at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
in London, he played the role of Falstaff
Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare. In the two Henry IV plays, he is a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. A fat, vain, boastful, and cowardly knight, Falstaff leads the apparently wayward Prince Hal into trouble, and is...
, for which he became best known as an actor, his authorial pseudonym serving also as his stage name. He performed, too, in both Dublin and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, of which he was a sometime manager. Invited to Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
in 1762, he retained a connection to it for the rest of his life.
As a writer, Love met success with such Rome-inspired Pantomimes as The Witches; or, Harlequin Cherokee (1762
1762 in literature
See also: 1761 in literature, other events of 1762, 1763 in literature, list of years in literature.-Events:* Founding of the Sorbonne library.* Académie française produces new edition of its dictionary of the French language...
), The Rites of Hecate; or, Harlequin from the Moon (1763
1763 in literature
See also: 1762 in literature, other events of 1763, 1764 in literature, list of years in literature.-Events:* John Wilkes was arrested for his writings in The North Briton...
) and The Hermit; or, Harlequin at Rhodes (1766
1766 in literature
See also: 1765 in literature, other events of 1766, 1767 in literature, list of years in literature.-New books:* Henry Brooke - The Fool of Quality*Genuine Memoirs of the Celebrated Miss Maria Brown...
), in addition to Cricket. His earliest work was Pamela (1742
1742 in literature
The year 1742 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* December 2 - The Pennsylvania Journal first appears in print in the United States.* The Stockholm Gazette begins publication....
).
Family
Love was also the brother of George Dance the YoungerGeorge Dance the Younger
George Dance the Younger was an English architect and surveyor. The fifth and youngest son of George Dance the Elder, he came from a distinguished family of architects, artists and dramatists...
, who took on the same occupation as his father. It is probable that both the Younger and the Elder helped to construct the Richmond Theatre. According to Dorothy Stroud, "references to the building are vague and two of them, while agreeing as to sponsors, differ as to the name of the designer. A third gives it to [David] Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
and it is evident that there was a good deal of confusion as to the various participants."