The Tragedy of Donohoe single work   drama  
  • Author:agent Charles Harpur http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/harpur-charles
First known date: 1834 Issue Details: First known date: 1834... 1834 The Tragedy of Donohoe
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Notes

  • Later revised and rewritten as Stalwart the Bushranger.
  • Charles Harpur delivered a copy of this play to the offices of the Sydney Monitor in early May 1834, requesting the newspaper's opinion of his tragedy. The manucript is described in the Monitor as follows: 'a good quire of foolscap, stitched together, the leaves of which were full of writing of a very neat description and plain, divided into acts and scenes with all the precision of a printed play book, the titles and headings being transcribed in text and large italic hands, so as to make every part nearly as distinct, as if it had been in type'.

    Source: Sydney Monitor, 8.688 (10 May 1834): 2.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Notes:
Seven extracts (but not a complete serialisation) published in the Sydney Monitor on 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 and 28 February, 1835.

Works about this Work

Australian Literature 1834 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 10 May vol. 8 no. 688 1834; (p. 2)

The writer for the Monitor describes the arrival in the newspaper's office, 'a few days ago', of 'a youth of an open and ingenuous countenance', 'a native of Windsor'. The youth brought with him a copy of a tragedy in blank verse that he had written and requested an opinion on its merit.

Although fearful that the work would have to be condemned, the writer (and reader of the play) states: we sat down to peruse the first tragedy in blank verse composed on this side the equator, which we ever heard of. On going through the work, we felt very considerable interest in the tale, the scenes and the characters generally.

The Monitor offers advice on possible changes to the play (including doing away with the blank verse) and suggests that it be performed at Levey and Simmons's Theatre Royal. The Monitor further notes its intention, subject to the author's approval, to publish 'a sketch of the tale, and of the scenes, with specimens of the dialogue'.

Australian Literature 1834 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 10 May vol. 8 no. 688 1834; (p. 2)

The writer for the Monitor describes the arrival in the newspaper's office, 'a few days ago', of 'a youth of an open and ingenuous countenance', 'a native of Windsor'. The youth brought with him a copy of a tragedy in blank verse that he had written and requested an opinion on its merit.

Although fearful that the work would have to be condemned, the writer (and reader of the play) states: we sat down to peruse the first tragedy in blank verse composed on this side the equator, which we ever heard of. On going through the work, we felt very considerable interest in the tale, the scenes and the characters generally.

The Monitor offers advice on possible changes to the play (including doing away with the blank verse) and suggests that it be performed at Levey and Simmons's Theatre Royal. The Monitor further notes its intention, subject to the author's approval, to publish 'a sketch of the tale, and of the scenes, with specimens of the dialogue'.

Last amended 27 Oct 2011 10:10:06
Subjects:
  • Bush,
  • New South Wales,
Settings:
  • 1830s
  • 1820s
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