William Archer (critic) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Archer
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| Born | 23 September 1856 Perth, Scotland
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| Died | 27 December 1924 (aged 68) London, England
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| Education | Middle Temple |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Writer, theatre critic |
| Spouse(s) |
Frances Elizabeth Trickett
(m. 1884) |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Parent(s) |
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William Archer (born September 23, 1856 – died December 27, 1924) was a Scottish writer and theatre critic. He lived in London for most of his life. Archer also worked to change English spelling. He was known for supporting the plays of Henrik Ibsen. He was also a good friend of George Bernard Shaw.
Contents
Life and Career Highlights
Growing Up and School
William Archer was born in Perth. He was the oldest boy among nine children. His father, Thomas Archer, moved the family often for work. Because of this, William went to many different schools. These included schools in Perth, Lymington, Reigate, and Edinburgh.
He spent some of his childhood visiting relatives in Norway. There, he learned to speak Norwegian very well. This is also where he first learned about the plays of Henrik Ibsen.
University and Early Work
Archer won a special scholarship to the University of Edinburgh. He studied subjects like English literature and mathematics. In 1872, his family moved to Australia. But William stayed in Scotland to continue his studies.
While still at university, he started writing for the Edinburgh Evening News in 1875. After visiting his family in Australia for a year, he came back to Edinburgh. In 1878, he moved to London. His father wanted him to become a barrister (a type of lawyer).
Becoming a Theatre Critic
William was not very interested in law. He was much more fascinated by the theatre. He finished his legal training in 1883 but never worked as a lawyer. Instead, he became a drama critic for The London Figaro.
Later, he moved to The World magazine. He worked there from 1884 to 1906. In London, he quickly became an important writer. He had a lot of influence in the world of theatre.
Introducing Ibsen's Plays
Archer played a big part in bringing the plays of Henrik Ibsen to England. He translated Ibsen's play The Pillars of Society in 1880. This was the first Ibsen play shown in London.
He also translated other plays from Scandinavia. These included Ibsen's A Doll's House (1889) and The Master Builder (1893). He often worked with others on these translations.
Family Life
In 1881, Archer met Frances Elizabeth Trickett. She was the youngest of eight children. They got married in October 1884. The next year, they had their only child, a son named Tom (born 1885). Sadly, Tom was killed in the First World War in 1918. William and Frances had a strong and friendly marriage.
Helping New Theatre Groups
In 1897, Archer helped start a group called the "New Century Theatre." The goal was to put on plays that were well-written. This included plays by Ibsen. This group didn't last long.
In 1899, a more successful group called the Stage Society was formed. It took the place of the New Century Theatre.
Friendship with George Bernard Shaw
Archer was an early friend of George Bernard Shaw. He helped arrange for Shaw's plays to be translated into German. They even tried to write a play together. Shaw later used their ideas for his own play, Widower's Houses.
Archer also helped Shaw get a job as an art critic. Later, Shaw became a music critic for The World. Their friendship was strong but sometimes difficult. Both men were very honest. Archer thought Shaw was brilliant but sometimes silly.
Later Life and Legacy
During the First World War, Archer worked for the government's War Propaganda Bureau. After the war, he had a big success with his play The Green Goddess. It was a popular play in New York City in 1921. He admitted it was a fun play, but not as important as his critical writings.
William Archer passed away in London in 1924. He had complications after surgery for a kidney tumor. People remember Archer as a clear and logical thinker. He was very honest and always wanted to make theatre better. His work in bringing Ibsen's plays to England was very important.
Outside of theatre, Archer also worked on changing English spelling. He helped write the first dictionary for a new spelling system called NuSpelling.
Main Works
Theatre and Criticism
- English Dramatists of To-day (1882)
- Henry Irving, a study of the actor (1883)
- About the Theatre: Essays and Studies (1886)
- Masks or Faces? A Study in the Psychology of Acting (1888)
- W. C. Macready, a biography (1890)
- The Theatrical World for... (1893–97), a series of five books
- Play-Making (1912)
- The Old Drama and the New (1923)
Other Writings
- America To-day, Observations and Reflections (1900)
- Poets of the Younger Generation (1901)
- Real Conversations (1904)
- A National Theatre: Scheme and Estimates, with H. Granville Barker (1907)
- Through Afro-America (1910)
- The Great Analysis: A Plea for a Rational World-Order (1912)
Plays Written by Archer
- War is War (1919)
- The Green Goddess (1921)
See also
In Spanish: William Archer para niños
