Further Reading
Books, publications and further information about the life of David Garrick (1717–1779)
SUGGESTIONS FOR READING
David Garrick Papers. The Herefordshire Museum collection consists of over 200 items belonging to David Garrick. Most of them are manuscripts although there are some published works.
David Garrick Collection. Archives at Yale. https://yale An important collection of original letters, and writings by David Garrick. The British Art Centre at Yale also houses a collection of Zoffany’s paintings of Garrick at Hampton and theatrical scenes.
David Garrick Collection. Folger Shakespeare Library. Hamnet Collection. http://catalog.folger.edu Major collection of papers and writings of David Garrick, including prompt books.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Private Correspondence of David Garrick, first published in 1831 from the original letters, London, Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley.
The Letters of David Garrick. London, Oxford University Press, 1963. A collection of the letters of David Garrick, edited by David Little and George. K. Kahri.
BIOGRAPHIES WRITEN BY AUTHORS WHO KNEW DAVID GARRICK
Davies, Thomas Memoirs of the life of David Garrick, Covent Garden, 1780. Davies was a bookseller in Covent Garden. He was originally an actor. He introduced Boswell to Johnson and wrote the Memoirs of Garrick a year after Garrick’s death. The Memoirs include a dedication to Sheridan who was Garrick’s successor at the Royal Theatre, Drury Lane.
Murphy, Arthur The Life of David Garrick. Knightsbridge, 1801. He was a member of Garrick’s company and was a playwright.
OTHER KEY BIOGRAPHICAL BOOKS
The following books are listed by descending chronological date of publication, starting with the most recently published.
McConnell Stott, Andrew. What blest Genius? The Jubilee that made Shakespeare, New York, W.W Norton and Company, 2019. An entertaining treatment of Garrick’s Jubilee Festival to Shakespeare in Stratford in 1769.
Benedetti, Jean David Garrick and the birth of modern theatre. London, Methuen, 2001. A book by the former Principal of the Rose Bruford Theatre School in Kent. A good general introduction to the life and world of Garrick, with illustrations.
McIntyre, Ian, Garrick, Allen Lane, Penguin Press, 1999. A detailed and thorough biography, rich in detail and winner of the 1999 Theatre Book Prize. Currently regarded as the flagship biography of Garrick with an extensive bibliography.
Kendall, Alan David Garrick A Biography, London, Harrap1985. A lively and informative introduction to the life and times of Garrick. Recommended for the general reader.
Stochholm, Johanne, Garrick’s Folly, London, Methuen, 1964. A specific exploration of the first ever Shakespeare Festival organised at Stratford by Garrick in 1769, effectively establishing the modern ‘Shakespeare industry’
Oman, Carola, David Garrick, London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1958. A very readable general biography of Garrick. A serious and entertaining read, evoking the world of Garrick.
Barton, Margaret, Garrick London, Faber and Faber, 1948. A good non-academic, shorter biography of Garrick.
Fitzgerald, Percy. The Life of David Garrick. Kent, Simkin, Marshall and Hamilton, 1899. A classic late nineteenth century view of Garrick’s life, with well researched detail.
Smyth, James, David Garrick, Leopold Classic Library. Originally published in the nineteenth century and republished 2015. A Victorian view of David Garrick.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR VISITORS TO GARRICK’S TEMPLE TO SHAKESPEARE
Smith, Helen R The Story of Garrick and his life at Hampton, The Temple Trust, 1998. This is a brief, concise introduction to the life of Garrick.
A selection of seasonal ‘Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare’s Newsletters’ from the Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare’s Trust. These include well informed essays about Garrick written by the distinguished actor, Clive Francis. You can view and download the Newsletters here – www.garrickstemple.org.uk
HISTORIC SITES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ASSOCIATED WITH DAVID GARRICK
Some of these sites allow public access, where there are artefacts linked to his life and career.
Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare, Hampton. Full details about the Temple are available at www.garrickstemple.org.uk
Garrick’s Villa, Hampton (not open to the public). This stands in Hampton-on-Thames close to the river and faces Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare across the main road. Garrick lived in the house between 1754 and his death in 1779. His widow, Eva Maria, owned the villa till her death in 1822. The villa is now divided into several apartments, which are privately owned, as is the tunnel under the main road linking the house to the riverside garden, put in place by Garrick soon after buying the house.
Garrick House, 27, Southampton Street, WC2. (This is now privately owned and is not open to the public). This Covent Garden town house is just a few hundred yards from the site of Garrick’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and he lived there between 1749-1772. There is a blue plaque commemorating this on the outside of the house.
Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London. In 1772 Garrick and his wife moved their London base to a fashionable new terrace by the river, at the Adelphi. The house was pulled down in 1936, however the ornate dining-room ceiling was preserved, and can be seen at the V&A. The ceiling, like the house, was designed and built by Robert Adam who was Garrick’s close friend. The mythological figures on the ceiling were painted by Antonio Zucchi. It is now housed in the British Galleries, Room 118 (The Wolfson Gallery). The V&A Museum has a collection of over 1,500 Garrick-related items. These can be found here: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/
Samuel Johnson Birthplace and Bookshop, Bread Market Street, Lichfield WS13 6LG. www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a close friend of David Garrick and the two men first met when they were both living in Lichfield. The house dates to the early eighteenth century and was regularly visited by Garrick. It now houses a collection of memorabilia to Samuel Johnson and there is a gallery dedicated to Garrick, with artefacts and paintings. Open daily.
Dr Johnson’s House, 17 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE. www.drjohnsonshouse.org Johnson lived at Gough Square until 1759. It was here that he compiled his famous Dictionary. The house was built in the late seventeenth century. It now houses a museum relating to Dr Johnson and his circle. Open daily.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. The current building was erected in 1812 and would have been visited by Mrs Garrick. It stands on the site of David Garrick’s famous playhouse.
Other memorabilia are owned by The Garrick Club, which is a private members’ club in Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London. It is not open to the public, however serious researchers may make appointments to visit the club’s art collections, and pictures can be viewed online via this link: https://garrick.ssl.co.uk/results
GARRICK’S TEMPLE TO SHAKESPEARE TRUST
Registered Charity No. 1107200
Patrons: Sir Geoffrey Cass, Michael Frayn, Sir Derek Jacobi, Robert Pennant Jones, Sir Ian McKellen, Claire Tomalin, Suzannah Fleming
Trustees: Sue Bell, Rosemary Carley, Professor John Davis, Hilary Dodman, Nathalie France, Clive Francis, Rupert Nichol, Suzette Nicholson, Dermot Taylor, Paul Velluet, Professor Richard Wilson
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