John O'Keeffe (1747-1833) was an Irish playwright who began his career as an actor in 1764. His first significant success as a writer was the play The Son-in-Law in 1779, and he was later called 'our English Moliere' by essayist William Hazlitt. He moved to London in 1781 - around the same time that his marriage broke down - and wrote a string of successful comic operas and dramatic works, including Wild Oats (1791). However, he suffered from failing eyesight and was nearly blind at the height of his fame. He dictated this memoir, published in two volumes in 1826, to his daughter, Adelaide (1776-1865). In Volume 1, O'Keeffe recounts his childhood in Ireland, his first trip to London in 1762, where he saw the legendary actor and theatre producer David Garrick (1717-79) on stage, and the beginning of his own dramatic career upon returning to Dublin.
- ISBN10 1154033104
- ISBN13 9781154033106
- Publish Date 1 July 2012 (first published 19 August 2010)
- Publish Status Unknown
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Rarebooksclub.com
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 66
- Language English