The Life and Work of George Alexander Stevens.

246 Pages·2017·9.74 MB·English

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LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School
1961
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Robert Blaine Thomas
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
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THOMAS. Robert Blaine, 1934-
THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE ALEXANDER
STEVENS.
Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1961
Language and Literature, general
University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan
TH3 L l;’3 AND V.'ORK OF ^30993 ALEXANDER 373V2CS
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the
Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical Collere
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the derree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in
The Department of Thriish
by
Robert Blaine Thomas
R. S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1956
U-. A., Louisiana State University, 195F
J'ine, 1961
ACKNO'VLF/Jro SKT3
I would like to thank Dr. John 5, Uhler for both his early
encouragement of the dissertation and his many suggestions for its
development.
Also I would like to express my appreciation to Dr. Valcolm
"are for the diffic\ilt position he assumed in takinr over the work
at the last minute and the members of the committee, Dr, CD ive and
Dr. Sasek, ror their con3 iderate and prompt help.
ii
TAFLE OF CONTENTS
Pa?e
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................... iv
PREFACE...................................................................................................................... v l
CHAPTER X: THE L IF E ..................................................................................... 1
CM A! TER II: THE POETRY................................................................................ 26
CHAPTER III: THE NOVELS
Tom Fool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hh
The Adventures of a Specul 1 s t ................................................................ 73
CHATTY IV: THE DRAT AS
Distreaa upon D istress............................................. 112
The Dramatic History , , , ................................................................139
CHAPTER V: LE7’T',',-’E
m ,i'?
Lecture upon ’~ ri Is............................................................................................197
CHAITE? VI:r HI!’’C IO H .........................................................................................721
HIHLIOHP -\i'Hv .........................................................................................................................22F
ill
V'-IT?. ACT
feorre Alexander 3teven3 was a T.inor literary" fi-ure of t v'.e
middle eighteenth century. His life is an unusual and varied one,
for he experi'T'.ced the extrer.es of existence in the theatrical world
of h i3 lay. He attempted successive careers as actor, puppeteer,
poet, novelist, drar ati. .at, essayist, and lecturer, achieving popular
success ord y ’-it’' the l atter.
The word' of tils man has lonv been <>orr’otten, hut t v’is
material is of interest because it provi i«s interestin'- hac'*"round
informat ion or. the li^e and coal s o*’ a minor f i--ure of the day,
Stevens is clearly a transitional *'i'Ture; '-■e hjxt.a''osQ3 romantic ar.d
neoclassic materials and obviously is strivinr ror popularity, ’’ow-
ever, it was v:is nisfortune that his own convivial nature, which kept
him popular a onr London club circles, did not extend to hi 3 work, so
fane ar.d last in- popularity elude him.
Stevens' lar-est single effort lieg in his novels, The TJi story
of Tor, Fool and The Adventures of a_ Specul is t. These hoth are ra-r|h-
lin r, discursive, e: isoiic novels that are in obvious imitation of
the s'lccessful masters of the ^enre, Fieldin’, Richardson, lefoe, and
Sterne. Stevens combines neoclassic satire, moralistic sentimentality,
and conscious didacticism. The novels are composed chiefly of topi­
cal material and satirize the follies of London fashionable society.
Stevens is most interested in character appearance. ne does not
iv
concern himself much with internal realistic development of person­
ality. This tra it reflects his pup.peteerinr experience, and it is
in this very area that he scored his greatest success, his dramatic
monologue, The Lecture upon Heads. itself a series of humorous
caricatures. The lecture was further embellished with hand puppet
heads.
Stevens was always associated with the theater, and his dra­
matic work reflects the same characteristics found in his novels.
He is constantly concerned with fashionable follies and topical events.
His plays are short conical afterpieces and blend serious and humor­
ous elements. Two 1 onr plays, Platress Upon distress; or. fraredy
in True Taste, and The Dramatic History of Vaster _xi, ?■'iss Ann.
and others. . .were ur.act.ed and never intended for the stare. Vis
other plays, however, are primarily farcical although they incor­
porate patriot ism, nautical materials, and popular sonys. S+evens
was well known for his liyht drink iny 3onrs that reflect hi 3 philo­
sophy of life. He constantly is concerned with rood humor, con­
vivial company, and success.
Stevens is definitely a second rate fi nire, but be does
illustrate the typical minor literary artist of his day. His work
provides interesting backrround material and clearly illustrates
neoclassic and romantic characteristics.
v
FRIFAjCS
heorge Alexander Stevens Is a minor literary figure of the mid­
eighteenth century viho was quite active in the theater world of London,
Stevens was a literary tiack-of-a 11-trades, hut it was his misfortune
that his "reat personal charm which made him popular in London club
life did not extend to his work. Today, desoite the great aroint of
work he produced, Stevens is virtually '’orgotten, and his works have
never been evaluated.
The eighteenth century was a time of great changes—the early
part was neoclassic and the latter part, romantic. Between the two
extremes was much shading, and against this varied background appear
many minor literary figures. Stevens is definitely a mediocre figure
at grips with a great tradition. He is unable to do much that is
original, and he follows alone established traditions. But his work
is clearly typical of the day and blends elements of neoclassic ism
and romanticism. He is a transitional fi~ure.
In this study I intend to present the biographical facts of
Stevens' life and then to devote a chapter to each of the genres
he attmpted--poetry, the novel, the drama, and finally the lecture.
It is n$r intent to show in this study that George Alexander Stevens,
though a minor figure, is representative and typical of the lesser
literary figures of his day and that he is, furthermore, a transitional
f i ’-ure, bl ending neoclassic and romantic tra its.
vi
CHAPTER I
Sine* George Alexander Stevens was not one of the prominent
figures of his age, time has reduced biographicsi information to a
small number of sources. The best biography is The Dictionary o£
National Biography, in which Thomas Seccombe, the biographer, pre­
sents much of the available material; hem ever, Becccmbe's account is
not complete. A summary of Seecomtoe's work follows.
George Alemander Stevens mas born around 1710 In the pariah
of St. Andrew'a in Holborn, the northwest portion of modern London.
His father, himself a tradesman, apprenticed Stevens to a trade
which apparently proved unattractive to the boy, for he soon Joined
a strolling company of players where his convivial ten>er made him
popular with his fallow actors. In this company the stage provided
him with a living even though he possessed little talent. In 1750
he belonged to a company which was playing at Lincoln, 130 miles
north of London. The following year Stevens suffered a severe ill­
ness, and he published "a dismal rhapsody" called "Religion, or the
Libertine Repentant," but by 1752 he was acting in Dublin. With his
friend, Isaac Sparks, Stevens formed a social club, itiich they call­
ed Nassau Court, and the meofcers held mock trials and enacted other
buffooneries. At this time Stevens published pseudonymously his
first work, Distress upon Distresst or, Tragedy in True Taste; A
2
Hto i-Ccni-Parodi-Farc leal Burlesque. by Sir Henry Huam with not ee
by Paulua Purgantius. At least one llnat "And Cannon Sense atood
trembling at the door,*1 is of interest, for Charles Churchill
thought it worthy of incorporation in The Roselad
In 1754 Stevens appeared at Covent Garden but with no success
as an actor. With some recognition as a wit, however, he began an
imitation of Pope's Dunelad. The Birth-Pay of Folly. 1754} aid he
was admitted into several clubs, one of which, The Choice Spirits,
was loce ed near Covant Garden. For these clubs, Stevens wrote many
songs, and he also did songs and speeches for Sdward Shu ter, a comic
actor, and other actors to deliver at benefits. Stevens' "The
Choice Spirits' Feast" was published in 1754. This work is supposed
to be in imitation of Diyden's celebrated ode, "Alexander's Feast,"
and Stevens is thought to have performed the piece himself in Ire-
2
land. Seccombe calls the work a collection of ditties; and he be­
lieves a novel, The Adventures of Tom Fool, which appeared in 1760,
is a concealed biography. 3
Although Stevens edited a short-lived periodical, The Beauties
of all the Magasines Selected, between 1762 and 1764, he continued
his efforts in the theater, and the 1762 interlude, "Hearts of Oak,"
is credited to him by Baker. Seccombe, however, doubts this, for the
main sea song of the same title was first given in Harlequin's In­
vasion. a Christmas pantomime of 1759, which is attributed to David
Garrick. Seccombe believes Stevens would have included the song in
his own collection of songs if it were his.
In 1763 Stevens wrote The Dramatic History of Vaster ISdward.
Miss Ann, and others, the eoctraordinarles of these times, a work