Davidson, John, 1857-1909

Davidson, John (1857-1909) was a late nineteenth-century British writer active mainly in literature and drama. Two of his works are held in the collection: The Theatrocrat: A Tragic Play of Church and Stage and A Practical Novelist, commonly classified under inspirational growth. The former, set against the background of church and stage, takes the form of a tragedy and shows the author's interest in the relationship between religion and theatre; the latter centers on the craft of fiction and carries a practical, instructional tone. Overall, his writing combines dramatic and practical qualities, spanning faith, performance and methods of writing. Because public information is limited, details of his life, education and main experiences are difficult to verify; this introduction outlines his creative profile only on the basis of the available works, and readers may consult the original texts for further understanding of his style and influence.