This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1905. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... It is a clear indication of the rapidity with which Fielding could turn out these satirical dramatic sketches--for the pieces above named are little more--that he was able in the same year to produce a play which was at once even less serious than they and yet his most important contribution to drama. I refer, of course, to Tom Thumb the Great. Its merit was at once recognized, indeed, and in the following year an altered form appeared. After having a successful run, this was published, with an admirable preface and notes by "H. Scriblerus Secundus," one of those delightful pedants whom authors have been creating as foils to their own imaginations from the seventeenth century down to Scott and Lowell. If the writers of mock-heroic tragedy were well ridiculed in the text, the scholars of the day were as well laughed at in the annotations. In the preface, in praise of the "tragedy," he says: "It hath, among other languages, been translated into Dutch, and celebrated with great applause at Amsterdam (where burlesque never came) by the title of Mynheer Vander Thumb, the burgomasters receiving it with that reverent and silent attention which becometh an audience at a deep tragedy." Or witness his erudite remarks on the final scene, where all the important characters are successively killed: "No scene, I believe, ever received greater honours than this. It was applauded by several encores, a word very unusual in tragedy. And it was very difficult for the actors to escape without a second slaughter. This I take to be a lively assurance of that fine spirit of liberty which remains among us, and which Mr. Dryden, in his essay on Dramatick Poetry,1 hath observed: 'Whether custom,' says he, 'hath so formed them to fierceness, I know not; but they will scarcely suffer comba...
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