Humanistic Studies of the University of Kansas, Vol. 1

This 1915 University of Kansas scholarly volume undertakes a bold reclamation project. It argues that Colley Cibber, long dismissed as an intellectual lightweight by contemporaries like Alexander Pope, deserves serious reconsideration as a foundational figure in English theatrical history. Croissant examines Cibber's multifaceted career as playwright, actor, and adapter, tracing his instrumental role in the emergence of sentimental comedy. The work challenges the dismissive portrait of Cibber perpetuated by Pope's satirical "The Dunciad," presenting evidence of his inventive spirit and his influence on the theatrical trends that shaped 18th-century English drama. Through close analysis of Cibber's operas and comedies, Croissant illuminates how this often-maligned figure helped bridge the gap between Restoration wit and the more moralistic theatrical tastes of the succeeding era. For scholars of English literature and theatre history, this volume offers a fascinating case study in how literary reputations are constructed, contested, and reconsidered.