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The Jew: A Comedy. First American Edition.
Pamphlet of Richard Cumberland's play, *The Jew: A Comedy*, first performed in England in 1794. This is the first American edition, published circa 1795. The play is notable for its sympathetic portrayal of Sheva, a wealthy Jewish moneylender, as the hero, a rarity in English theatre at the time. The play's success in Great Britain, America, Germany, and Paris is discussed, along with Cumberland's later disappointment at the lack of financial gratitude from the Jewish community. The pamphlet also touches on the play's popularity and its relationship to Shakespeare's *The Merchant of Venice*.
Associated People/Businesses
- CUMBERLAND (GENTILE)
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Physical Location
Arc.MS.56, Box 6