author
Henry Arthur Jones
1851–1929
A major force in late Victorian theatre, this English dramatist helped move popular stage entertainment toward weightier social drama. He is still best remembered for the hit melodrama The Silver King and for a long, busy career that produced dozens of plays.
2 Audiobooks
Dolly Reforming Herself: A Comedy in Four Acts
by Henry Arthur Jones
Michael and His Lost Angel: A Play in Five Acts
by Henry Arthur Jones
About the author
Born in Buckinghamshire in 1851, Henry Arthur Jones left school young and worked before making his way into the theatre world. His first real breakthrough came with The Silver King in 1882, a hugely successful melodrama written with Henry Herman.
As his career developed, he became known not just for sensation and plot, but for plays that tackled social and moral questions. Works such as The Middleman, Judah, and The Liars helped establish him as an important figure in English theatre during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Jones wrote prolifically and was often discussed alongside other major dramatists of his era. Although his reputation faded after his death in London in 1929, he played a notable part in the transition from Victorian melodrama to more serious modern drama.