William Winter (author)
Encyclopedia
William Winter was an American
dramatic critic and author.
, Winter graduated from Harvard Law School
in 1857. He then chose literature as his field of endeavor, and moved to New York City
(1859), where he became literary critic of the Saturday Press, then (1861–65) of the New York Albion, and for more than 40 years (1865–1909) was a drama critic of the New York Tribune. He died in New York City
in 1917 and was buried at Silver Mount Cemetery
.
Brooks Atkinson
, in his history of the American Theater Broadway, accused Winter of being an intolerant prude for denouncing modern dramatists like Henrik Ibsen
and George Bernard Shaw
, and foreign stars like Sarah Bernhardt
and Eleanor Duse, for their personal lives. However, Atkinson credited Winter for having a remarkable memory, wherein he left a treasure trove of written descriptions of stars like Edwin Booth
and Sir Henry Irving. To this one may add that Winter had some degree of common sense that was missing from many of the dramatists of his day. His review of the ever-popular drama East Lynne showed that he considered the work a piece of claptrap, which most people these days agree is a correct assessment.
In 1886, in commemoration of the death of his son, he founded a library at the academy in Stapleton, New York.
He has edited, with memoirs and notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dramatic critic and author.
Biography
Born in Gloucester, MassachusettsGloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
, Winter graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1857. He then chose literature as his field of endeavor, and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(1859), where he became literary critic of the Saturday Press, then (1861–65) of the New York Albion, and for more than 40 years (1865–1909) was a drama critic of the New York Tribune. He died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1917 and was buried at Silver Mount Cemetery
Silver Mount Cemetery, Staten Island
Silver Mount Cemetery is located at 918 Victory Boulevard on Staten Island, New York, United States.-Notable burials:*Mary Ewing Outerbridge , who imported tennis into the US.*William Winter , American dramatic critic and author...
.
Brooks Atkinson
Brooks Atkinson
Justin Brooks Atkinson was an American theatre critic. He worked for The New York Times from 1925 to 1960...
, in his history of the American Theater Broadway, accused Winter of being an intolerant prude for denouncing modern dramatists like Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
and George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
, and foreign stars like Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
and Eleanor Duse, for their personal lives. However, Atkinson credited Winter for having a remarkable memory, wherein he left a treasure trove of written descriptions of stars like Edwin Booth
Edwin Booth
Edwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
and Sir Henry Irving. To this one may add that Winter had some degree of common sense that was missing from many of the dramatists of his day. His review of the ever-popular drama East Lynne showed that he considered the work a piece of claptrap, which most people these days agree is a correct assessment.
In 1886, in commemoration of the death of his son, he founded a library at the academy in Stapleton, New York.
Works
His writings include:- The Convent, and other Poems (Boston, 1854)
- The Queen's Domain, and other Poems (1858)
- My Witness: a Book of Verse (1871)
- Sketch of the Life of Edwin Booth (1871)
- Thistledown: a Book of Lyrics (1878)
- The Trip to England (1879)
- Poems: Complete Edition (1881)
- The Jeffersons (1881)
- English Rambles and other Fugitive Pieces (Boston, 1884)
- Henry IrvingHenry IrvingSir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
(1885) - The Stage Life of Mary AndersonMary Anderson (stage actress)Mary Anderson was an American stage actress.-Early life:...
(1886) - Shakespeare's England (1888)
- Gray Days and Gold (1889)
- Old Shrines and Ivy (1892)
- Shadows of the Stage (1892, 1893, and 1894)
- The Life and art of Edwin BoothEdwin BoothEdwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
(1893) - The Life and Art of Joseph JeffersonJoseph JeffersonJoseph Jefferson, commonly known as Joe Jefferson , was an American actor. He was the third actor of this name in a family of actors and managers, and one of the most famous of all American comedians....
(1894) - Brown Heath and Blue Bells (1896)
- Ada RehanAda RehanAda Rehan was an American actress.-Biography:She was born as Ada Crehan in County Limerick, Ireland, and brought to the United States at about the age of six years....
(1898) - Other Days of the Stage (1908)
- Old Friends (1909)
- Poems (1909), definitive author's edition
- Life and Art of Richard MansfieldRichard MansfieldRichard Mansfield was an English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas and for his portrayal of the dual title roles in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
(1910) - The Wallet of TimeThe Wallet of TimeProduced in 1913, The Wallet of Time is a publication by William Winter, in two volumes. Its title is taken from the words of William Shakespeare: "Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,..." American stage actors and actresses, most of whom had been born in...
(1913) - a Life of Tyrone PowerTyrone Power, Sr.Frederick Tyrone Edmond Power was an English-born American stage and screen actor, who acted under the name Tyrone Power.-Early life:Power was born in London in 1869, the son of Harold Littledale Power and Ethel Lavenu...
(1913) - Shakespeare on the Stage (two series, 1911–15)
- Vagrant Memories (1915)
He has edited, with memoirs and notes:
- The Poems of George Arnold (Boston, 1866)
- Life, Stories, and Poems of John Brougham (1881)
- The Poems and Stories of Fitz-James O'Brien (1881)
External links
- Brief biography and two poems