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John Westland Marston (30 January 1819 – 5 January 1890) was anEnglishdramatist and critic.
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He was born atBoston, Lincolnshire, on 30 January 1819, was son of the Rev. Stephen Marston, minister of a Baptist congregation. In 1834, he was apprenticed to his maternal uncle, a London solicitor; but although he was not inattentive to the duties of the office after obtained a fair knowledge of law, literature and the theatre had much greater attractions for him. His evenings were devoted to the theatre and becoming acquainted with Heraud, Francis Barham, and other members of the group which gathered aroundJames Pierrepont Greaves. In 1847, the author Richard Bedingfield dedicated his domestic tragedy,Madeline, to Marston, who was a good friend of his.[1]
He contributed to Heraud's magazineThe Sunbeam, and himself became editor of a mystical periodical entitledThe Psyche. Among its chief supporters were some wealthy ladies nearCheltenham, Through them he made the acquaintance of Eleanor Jane Potts, eldest daughter of the proprietor ofSaunders's News-Letter, who had retired to Cheltenham. She was not, as has been stated, a member of theEarl of Mayo's family. A warm and durable attachment on both sides was the consequence, which resulted in marriage in May 1840, notwithstanding the strongest opposition on the part of the lady's family. Marston idealised and inverted his love story in his first play,The Patrician's Daughter (1841, 8vo), performed in December 1842. Marston had already produced a little volume entitledGerald, a Dramatic Poem, and other Poems (1842, 12mo), respectable, like everything he wrote.[2]
The Heart and the World (1847) was a failure, but in 1849 Marston, laying his theories aside for a time, appeared with a historical drama,Strathmore, which obtained great success, and which he himself regarded as his best work. It has fine literary qualities, although the author's inability to think himself into the age he exhibits constitutes a grave defect. The same may be said of Philip of France andMarie de Meranie (1850), 'a stirring tragedy, of which the verse has an appropriate martial ring,' and in whichHelen Faucit produced a great impression. It is based to some extent onG. P. R. James's novelPhilip Augustus.[3]
In the interim (1862) had appearedAnne Blake another domestic drama, clever, but marred by such situations and denouements as only occur on the stage. InA Life's Hansom (1857) the domestic and historical elements are in some measure blended, the action being laid at the revolution of 1688. Such a piece might be easily produced by a man of Mareton's literary ability, but his next tragi-comedy,A Hard Struggle (1858), required genuine feeling in the author and great command over the resources of the stage. Being written in prose, it produces a greater impression of reality than his more ambitious efforts; it drew tears and enthusiastic praise fromDickens, and obtained a greater success than any of his pieces, owing in part to the powerful acting of Dillon.[2]
After his marriage, Marston lived entirely in London, except for occasional visits to France and short lecturing tours in Scotland and Lancashire. He had become well known in London literary society, especially to Dickens and his circle, and had taken a part in Bulwer's comedy ofNot so bad as we seem, acted for the benefit of theGuild of Literature and Art. About the same time a tragedy on the history ofMontezuma, which would have afforded ample scope for scenic display, was written for and purchased byCharles Kean, but never produced.
In 1857, Marston undertook the editorship of theNational Magazine in conjunction withJohn Saunders. The early numbers had excellent contributions fromSydney Dobell, Mrs. Crowe, and other writers of mark, and illustrations after young artists of genius likeArthur Hughes andW. L. Windus, and with adequate capital the enterprise would probably have succeeded. Relinquishing it, and also renouncing vain attempts in fiction, for which, strangely enough, he did not appear to possess the slightest qualification, Marston returned to the theatre, and produced successivelyThe Wife's Portrait (1862) andPure Gold (1863), prose dramas of little account;Donna Diana (1863), the best of all his plays, but mainly taken from Moreto's masterpiece,El Desden con el Desden; andThe Favourite of Fortune (1866). It achieved a conspicuous success upon its production.
The same remark applies toA Hero of Romance, adapted fromOctave Feuillet in 1867, andLife for Life (1869), written for Miss Neilson.Broken Spells followed in 1873, but with his last play,Under Fire (1885), he experienced a mortifying failure. The piece was the weakest he ever wrote, and he had entirely lost touch with the time.[2]
From about 1863, Marston contributed much poetical criticism to theAthenæum. The celebrated review ofAtalanta in Calydon was written by him. Criticism, indeed, seemed rather his forte than original composition. His theoretical knowledge of the histrionic art was also profound; but though he showed little disposition to cultivate it practically, he was an excellent mimic, and Miss Neilson, like many other actors and actresses, owed much to his tuition. No one judged an actor more accurately, and the admonitions of few were more valuable. He proved his power as a critic of acting in hisOur Recent Actors: Recollect ions of late distinguished Performers of both Sexes, 1888.[2]
From 1860 to about 1874, Marston's circumstances were prosperous, and his house near theRegent's Park was a favourite meeting-place for poets, actors, and literary men. The latter years of his life were clouded by calamity, especially the successive deaths of his wife in 1870, of his two daughters, Eleanor, wife ofArthur O'Shaughnessy, in February 1879, and Cicely in July 1878, and of his gifted and only son,Philip Bourke Marston. His circumstances also became much impaired; but his friend Mr.Henry Irving generously organised (1 June 1887) a special performance ofWerner for his benefit at theLyceum Theatre.
The full receipts, amounting to £928 16s., were paid to Marston; all the expenses being borne by Mr. Irving.
Marston died at his lodgings in the Euston Road, 5 January 1890, after a long illness, and was interred with his wife and children on the eastern side ofHighgate Cemetery (plot no.28199).[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Garnett, Richard (1893). "Marston, John Westland". InLee, Sidney (ed.).Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 36. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
