author
Richard Cumberland
1732–1811
Best known for the once hugely popular play The West Indian, he was an 18th-century English dramatist who also worked in government and diplomacy. His writing aimed to move audiences through feeling and moral character, making him a notable voice in the age of sentimental comedy.
3 Audiobooks
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. I.
by Richard Cumberland
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. III.
by Richard Cumberland
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. II.
by Richard Cumberland
About the author
Born in Cambridge on 19 February 1732, Richard Cumberland studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and went on to build a career that mixed literature with public service. He served in a number of government posts and, during the American War of Independence, was involved in a diplomatic mission connected with efforts to negotiate with Spain.
Cumberland is remembered chiefly as a playwright. His breakthrough came with The West Indian in 1771, a major stage success that helped secure his reputation. Britannica notes him as a dramatist whose work matched the sentimental spirit that became an important force in the later 18th century, and that emphasis on sympathy, virtue, and moral feeling runs through the plays he is best known for.
He also wrote novels and memoirs, and his long career reflects the close ties between theatre, politics, and public life in Georgian Britain. Though his fame has faded since his lifetime, he remains an interesting figure for readers who enjoy the history of the stage and the changing tastes of English literature.