George Henry Boker Criticism
George Henry Boker (1823-1890) was a prominent American playwright and poet, known for his contributions to 19th-century dramatic arts. Despite his contemporaries' focus on developing an American national literature, Boker often set his works in European, medieval, or early modern contexts, as seen in his widely discussed play, Francesca da Rimini. Born into a notable Philadelphia Quaker family, Boker pursued law before shifting to a literary career, publishing his first poetry collection in 1848 and a play shortly after. He became an integral figure in Philadelphia's literary circles alongside peers like R. H. Stoddard and Bayard Taylor.
Throughout his life, Boker balanced literary pursuits with public service. As a founding member of the Union League, he was an ardent Union supporter during the Civil War. His diplomatic career included posts as Minister to Turkey and Envoy to Russia. Despite his public service, Boker continued to write, notably producing Poems of the War and other works inspired by contemporary events. His plays, often characterized by tragic and comic elements, reflect a divergence from the American romantic drama style, as noted by Kent G. Gallagher.
Francesca da Rimini is frequently considered Boker's masterpiece, exploring themes of aristocratic corruption and democratic principles, as Paul D. Voelker comments. Jules Zanger highlights Boker's bold reinterpretation of the traditional narrative, focusing on the brothers Paolo and Lanciotto rather than the infamous lovers. Although some critics, like Oliver H. Evans, regard this shift as a structural weakness, others appreciate the innovative character portrayals.
Boker's other noted works include Calaynos and Leonor de Guzman, praised by R. T. Conrad for enhancing American theater. Although his works sometimes faced production challenges, Arthur Hobson Quinn and Joseph Wood Krutch argue for Boker’s deserved recognition in American drama history. Boker's legacy, while underappreciated in his later years, remains significant for his unique blending of European settings with themes of American identity and ideals.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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The Drama: Boker's Leonor de Guzman
(summary)
In the following essay, Conrad laments the poor state of the dramatic arts in the mid-nineteenth century and praises Boker's contributions towards its improvement, focusing on Boker's play Leonor de Guzman.
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The Dramas of George Henry Boker
(summary)
In the following essay, Quinn provides an overview of Boker's career as a playwright.
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George Henry Boker
(summary)
In the following essay, Krutch maintains that Boker deserves a far more prominent place in the history of American drama than is generally accorded him.
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George Henry Boker—Playwright and Patriot
(summary)
In the following essay, Quinn discusses Boker's accomplishments as a playwright, as a founding member of the Union League, and as a diplomat.
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George Henry Boker's Francesca da Rimini: An Interpretation and Evaluation
(summary)
In the following essay, Voelker examines Boker's most famous play, attempting to account for twentieth-century critical neglect of both the play and its author.
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Boker's Francesca da Rimini: The Brothers' Tragedy
(summary)
In the following essay, Zanger discusses Boker's transformation of the traditional story, which focused on Francesca and Paolo as tragic lovers, to a narrative centered around the relationship between the two brothers Paolo and Lanciotto.
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The Tragedies of George Henry Boker: The Measure of American Romantic Drama
(summary)
In the following essay, Gallagher discusses Boker's development as a playwright and describes his plays as departures from a specifically American brand of romantic tragedy that celebrated the democratic principles of the new nation.
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Shakespearean Prototypes and the Failure of Boker's Francesca da Rimini
(summary)
In the following essay, Evans examines Francesca da Rimini, praising the treatment of Francesca and Paolo as well as the emphasis on the relationship between the brothers; however, he maintains that Boker's failure to develop the character of Lanciotto results in the failure of the play as a whole.
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The Late Plays and Poems
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Evans discusses Boker's writing career in the years following the production of Francesca da Rimini.
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The Drama: Boker's Leonor de Guzman
(summary)
- Further Reading