This book, a late offering from Dane’s career dating from the year before her death in 1965, narrates through history, literature, geography and personal story the history of Covent Garden. Many of Dane’s interests flow into this story – London, literature, the theatre, Shakespeare. Covent Garden was also for many years her home and this colours and personalises this lovely book. This copy is the 1974 reprint and has a short introductory paragraph by Noel Coward who spoke of Dane’s “great knowledge and deep love of every stone and street of the Garden.”
Coward also remarked on the topicality of the reprint at a time when there was discussion and concern about the preservation of Covent Garden and its buildings. In fact, protection for the buildings was established in 1973.
The strength of the book draws from Dane’s life intertwined with theatrical performance in all its forms, including as a passionate audience member. Anecdotes from theatrical history and Dane’s own experience fill this book.
Some of these stories are tiny but brilliant insights into theatre and how it changes and evolves. I love this story of the actor Hannah Pritchard (1711-1768) and Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) and their respective performances as Lady Macbeth.
The Solitary Reader 