Edward Stirling (playwright)
Edward Stirling (April 1809 – c. September 1894) was an English stage manager, actor and dramatist. He published around 200 works for the stage, many being adaptations of works by popular authors, notably Charles Dickens, Walter Scott and Harrison Ainsworth, often within days of the novel's publication. He married Mary Anne Stirling (1815–1895), an actress who went on to a long and illustrious career as Mrs Stirling. History Stirling was born Edward Stirling Lambert in Thame, Oxfordshire, and started working life as a banker's clerk. Around age 20 he began his stage career first as an actor in the provinces, then as actor/stage manager at the Adelphi, London for Frederick Henry Yates, later took on production at other theatres, finally at Drury Lane. Writing His first successful work for the stage was Sadak and Kalasrade, a spectacular drama. Apart from his original plays he "adapted" the latest novels of Dickens and other authors for the stage. His adaptation of The Cricket on the Hearth played at the Adelphi for over 90 performances. Among his numerous titles were: The Thirst for Gold, or the Sea of Ice T. W. Robertson produced another version. The Ragpicker of Paris and the Dressmaker of St Antoine Aline, the Rose of Killarney (1843) adaptation of Gaetano Rossi's Linda di Chamounix. C. Z. Barnett adapted the same libretto for his Linda, the Pearl of Savoy. The Bohemians; or, After Dark in Paris Margaret Catchpole became the film The Romantic Story of Margaret Catchpole Other titles include Above and Below The Anchor of Hope; or the Seaman's Star Bachelors Buttons Barnaby Rudge (Dickens) The Battle of Life (Dickens) The Bluejackets; or, Her Majesty's Service The Bohemians; or, The Rogues of Paris The Bould Soger Boy The Cabin Boy Captain Charlotte The Children in the Wood; or, Harlequin Nobody A Christmas Carol; or, Past, Present, and Future (Dickens) Clarisse; or, The Merchant's Daughter The Cricket on the Hearth; or, A Fairy Tale of Home (Dickens) T. W. Robertson produced another version. The Fortunes of Smike; or, A Sequel to Nicholas Nickleby (Dickens) The Giant of Palestine Grace Darling; or, The Wreck at Sea The Hand of Cards Harlequin Blue Beard; or, The Fairy of the Silver Crescent Industry and Indolence; or, The Orphan's Legacy Jane Lomax; or, A Mother's Curse The Jockey Club Knight of the Dragon and the Queen of Beauty Lestelle The Little Back Parlour The Love Gift; or, The Trials of Poverty A Lucky Hit The Miser's Daughter (Harrison Ainsworth) Nicholas Nickleby; or, Doings at Do-the-Boys Hall (Dickens) Norah Creina The Old Curiosity Shop; or, One Hour from Humphrey's Clock (Dickens) Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress (Dickens) On the Tiles Popping In and Out Rifle Volunteers; or, Riflemen! Riflemen! Riflemen! Form! The Rose of Corbeil; or the Forest of Senart The Serpent of the Nile; or, The Battle of Actium The Tower of London; or, Og, Gog, and Magog (Harrison Ainsworth) Ulrica; or, The Prisoner of State Wanted a Wife; or, London, Liverpool