Boker, George H. Calaynos: A Tragedy. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler, 1848.

From the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature

New Playwrights for New Stages II

George Henry Boker

George Henry Boker, born in Philadelphia and educated at Princeton, initially trained to be an attorney but instead chose to pursue a career as a poet and playwright. His first play, entitled Calaynos: A Tragedy (1848), drew on the conflict between the Spaniards and the Moors. Not particularly successful at writing comedies, Boker concentrated his playwriting on historical tragedy written in blank verse. 

Autograph letter, signed, from George H. Boker to Stoddard. 28 March 1853.

From the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature

He is best remembered for his five-act drama Francesca da Rimini (1855), which is based on a portion of Dante’s Inferno. Following an initially mediocre reception, Francesca was revived in 1882 and again in 1901 to greater success. While Boker continued his writing, the later years of his life were spent as a diplomat, serving as a United States envoy to both Turkey and Russia. Boker discusses theatrical business and the play Francesca da Rimini.

Engraving of George H. Boker, signed, by John Sartain. Philadelphia, no date. From the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature.

Engraving of John Howard Payne by H. B. Hall. New York, no date. In bound letterbook, containing autograph letters to and from John Howard Payne and others.

From the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature

John Howard Payne

Actor, critic, and playwright, John Howard Payne was drawn to the theatre at an early age. He wrote his first play when he was fifteen, a year after having published one of the initial American theatrical periodicals, The Thespian Mirror (see “The Critics”). Shortly thereafter, Payne made his stage debut in New York. William Dunlap wrote in A History of the American Theatre that:

Master Payne made his first appearance in character on any stage. This young gentleman was now 16 years of age, and small for that age, looking still younger. His face was remarkably handsome, his countenance full of intelligence, and his manners fascinating… He performed Young Norval with credit, and his succeeding characters with an increased display of talent… The applause bestowed on his Norval was very great – boy actors were then a novelty, and we have seen none since that equaled Master Payne.

Payne, John Howard. Richelieu: A Domestic Tragedy. New York: E. M. Murden, 1826.

From the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature

Lasting success on the American stage, particularly in New York, became increasingly difficult for Payne, and in 1813, he left America for England to pursue his acting career. However, fame eluded him on the British stage as well, and Payne turned to playwriting as a means of extricating himself from debt. During the course of his career, he wrote over fifty plays, the most well known being Brutus (1819), Therese (1821), and Charles the Second (1824), on which he collaborated with Washington Irving. Another moderately successful joint effort between these two friends found its way to stage as Richelieu (1826). Although a prolific playwright, John Howard Payne is best remembered for the song “Home, Sweet Home,” the lyrics for which he penned for his operetta Clari; or, The Maid of Milan (1823).

Autograph letter, signed, from Washington Irving to John Howard Payne. 25 February 1826. From the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature.