Narrative of the Life of Charlotte Charke by Charlotte Charke
Editor: Robert Rehder
Pickering Women's Classics
978 1 85196 267 9: 234x156mm: £40.00/$75.00
In this picaresque novel come true, Charlotte Charke recalls her extraordinary life, and in particular, the difficulties facing a woman trying to make her way in a man's world.
Charlotte Charke (c.1713–1760) was an actress with a long and tumultuous career. She was also the daughter of Colly Cibber, the most famous actor of his day, and a woman labelled (by men) as 'one of those disgraces to the community that ought not to be admitted to society'. The issues of women's writing, education, motherhood, sexuality and cross-dressing all come under her scrutiny.
Reviews
‘The editor, Robert Rehder, says a number of things that needed saying, including identifying this autobiography as a "minor masterpiece" and praising its vivacity … the identifications provided by Rehder’s full annotation are highly necessary … . This edition should help to make her autobiography better known’
– Robert Folkenflik, The Times Literary Supplement
‘I tip my hat … to Pickering for making the book available in full, and to Robert Rehder…. He captures just the right response to the sparky Charke: baffled, concerned, enlivened and enthralled.’
– David Jays, Plays international Magazine