Shakespeare and the Young Actor. A guide to production
Guy Boas (b.1896)
Category
Books
Date
1955
Materials
Place of origin
England
Collection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 3116338
Summary
The author’s skill and experience as a producer served as a basis for his book ‘Shakespeare and the Young Actor’ (1955), a guide to the presentation of Shakespeare in schools illustrated by many photographs from his own productions. Book gifted by: Guy Boas Book Inscription Signature: No signature Book Inscription: For The Prime Minster A record of “youth in all its ardour, while god had not yet wearied of mankind” From the author March 1955.
Full description
**The Inscribed Books Collection, to which this book belongs, consists of gift inscriptions on third party books given to Sir Winston Churchill from friends, family, and well-wishers, unsolicited presentation copies of books by strangers, as well as presentation copies from authors who were genuine friends and colleagues. After his death in January 1965, Churchill personally bequeathed the collection via his Will as a testament to his national and international achievements. In the Churchill Archives is a series of correspondence, from 4th March 1932 to 4th April 1933, between Churchill and Guy Boas (9 December 1896 - 26 March 1966), a headmaster of Sloane School, Chelsea who achieved wide recognition for his remarkable productions of schoolboys in Shakespeare's plays. The pair discuss the use of some of Churchill's works in educational books. Churchill declines the original offer, but some time later grants permission to Boas. Boas' skill and experience as a producer served as a basis for 'Shakespeare the Young Actor'. The book, which was published by Rocklift in 1955, is a guide to the presentation of Shakespeare in schools and includes many photographs from the author’s own productions. Like his father, a scholar of international reputation, Boas was actively involved in the affairs of the English Association all his professional life. In 1936, on his suggestion, the journal was launched under the editorship of George Cookson. Boas remained Associate Editor of English until 1965.
Bibliographic description
xi,126p. . 8vo. Provenance: inscribed by the author: For | The Prime Minster | A record of “youth in all its ardour, while god had not yet wearied of mankind” | From the author March 1955." Binding: publisher's purple cloth; with dust jacket.
Provenance
The book was gifted to Churchill by Boas himself who inscribed a message addressed to Churchill, dated 12th March 1955, which reads: "For the Prime Minster. A record of 'youth in all its ardour, while god had not yet wearied of mankind. From the author (March 1955)” On 1st March 1955, Churchill, as Prime Minister, gave a speech called ‘Never Despair’ in which he talks about the nuclear threat. It appears that Boas adapted sentences used in this speech for his inscription.
Makers and roles
Guy Boas (b.1896)