Talk:A Simple Story (novel)

Source Revisions/Additions of A Simple Story, Elizabeth Inchbald

Boardman, Michael. "INCHBALD'S "A SIMPLE STORY": AN ANTI-IDEOLOGICAL READING." The Eighteenth Century 37.3 (1996): 271-84. JStor. Web. 9 July 2017. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/41467813?seq=1#fndtn-page_scan_tab_contents>.

"Elizabeth Inchbald Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 July 2017. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-Fl-Ka/Inchbald-Elizabeth.html>.

Parker, Jo Alyson. "Complicating A Simple Story: Inchbald's Two Versions of Female Power." PROJECT MUSE. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 July 2017. <https://muse.jhu.edu/article/10712/summary>.

Emj1214 (talk) 09:20, 12 July 2017 (UTC)Emily Johnson

Elizabeth Inchbald's History leading to the novel of A Simple Story

Outline-

Youth-Original Name was Elizabth Simpson. Born in Standingfield England, 1753. Father was respected Farmer, Mother had seven children besides elizabeth. 1761 Father passed leaving the mother Mary to care for the large family. Her mother cared for them, maintained the farm and instilled a love of literature into her children. Took them to see plays as well in the nearby town of Bury, England.

As a child, Inchbald struggled with a speech impediment. She was a strong willed young lady and did not let her speech problems hold her back. In 1772 she followed brother George to London to pursue an acting career. Although beautiful, she had a hard time landing a gig due to her speech impediment. She did not make it as a serious actress until se married Joesph Inchbald.

Career- First dramatic appearance was in 1772 with her husband. She played the role of Cordelia in Shakespeare's King Lear and her husband played the role of king lear. End of 1772 the couple traveled to perform with A theatrical company in Glaslow and Edinburgh, scotland. pend more of her time here studying the parts rather than playing them. She was very impatient and still fresh to the scene of acting. Inchbald continued to struggle with her speech impediment and appeared in many featured roles such a Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello. The Inchbalds reamined with the the theatrical company until the spring of 1776. They then traveled to France where they hoped to settle down for a while. Plans changed when they quickly ran out of money and had to return to London in October of 1776. Their stay in london was very short as well, as they headed to the countryside seeking more work. They continued jumping around from town to town until landing positions with a theatrical touring company that performed in York and the surrounding areas. They continued their careers there until Josephs unexpected death from a heart attack in June of 1779.

Writings- After her husband passed away, Elizabeth continued to act throughout 1780. Shortly after, in 1781 she traveled to the country and lived on a farm with her mother and sister where she began to write her first comedy. 1784 first work was accepted by a theatrical company for production. she appeared in her own play in the summer of 1784 as Selina. Her run was succesful and she received a great amount of money. 1785 she wrote another succesful play, I'll Tell You What. Inchbald no longer needed to remarry for support and she never did end up remarrying. 1785 Appearance is Against Them was seen by the king and the prince and was Inchbald's first to appear in print. This work is one of the few of Inchbald's early works to surive.

Drama & Literature- 1789 Inchbald retired from acting all together. she returned to the writing of a draft she had previously written. She spent a lot of time revising and A Simple Story was published in February of 1791. Her novel was succesful and sold out in under one month. Critics found the story satisfying and although she wrote many additions her first was the most well liked.

Legacy- In the 1800's her health began to fade and she passed away august of 1821 in Kensington. Although she burned her memoirs before passing, Inchbald's works remain in print and continue to be performed. Emj1214 (talk) 10:16, 12 July 2017 (UTC)Emily Johnson