RIP VAN WINKLE

A loving foreword by Eleanor Farjeon, Jefferson's granddaughter, introduces this new edition of Joseph Jefferson's autobiography, first published in 1890, which still makes excellent reading, not only of the theatre of Jefferson's day but of an active, full, interesting life. Born in 1829 in Philadelphia, he knew not only the cities of his land, but also the wilderness, as he barnstormed throughout the country, indulged his love of fishing and painting, and achieved international fame through his creation of the part of Rip Van Winkle. He had a wealth of experience, and the personality of the man,-warm, lively, observant and outgoing, comes through- as he tells of the plays and players he worked with, the places he went and the things he did- and makes vivid the era in which he lived. This new edition is not expurgated or revised and parallels the original text, as do the illustrations although they do not seem to be as numerous as the earlier edition. The whole makes a valuable addition for the drama sections of libraries, drama classes and students of the theatre.