author
James Sheridan Knowles
1784–1862
A major figure in 19th-century theater, this Irish dramatist and actor was celebrated for lively stagecraft and emotionally charged plays such as Virginius, The Hunchback, William Tell, and The Love Chase. Later in life, he turned from the stage to religious writing and preaching.
2 Audiobooks
The Love-chase
by James Sheridan Knowles
The Hunchback
by James Sheridan Knowles
About the author
Born in Cork in 1784, he moved with his family to London as a child and went on to build a varied career as a teacher, actor, and playwright. He became one of the best-known dramatists of his day, writing for leading theaters and winning audiences with works that blended strong feeling, moral conflict, and theatrical energy.
His best-known plays include Virginius, The Hunchback, William Tell, The Wife, and The Love Chase. Although his work is less often staged now, he was an important presence in early 19th-century British and Irish theatrical life, and he also published novels later in his career.
In the 1840s, he stepped away from the stage and became a Baptist preacher, adding religious books and lectures to his body of work. He died in Torquay, England, in 1862, leaving behind a career that moved across performance, literature, and faith.