Image of Arthur Wing Pinero

Timeline

Lifetime: 1855 - 1934 Passed: ≈ 90 years ago

Title

Playwright, Actor

Country/Nationality

England
Wikipedia

Arthur Wing Pinero

Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor.

Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a supporting actor in British provincial theatres, and from 1876 to 1881 was a member of Henry Irving's company, based at the Lyceum Theatre, London.

Pinero was born in London, the only son, and second of three children, of John Daniel Pinero (1798–1871), and his wife Lucy, née Daines (1836–1905). Pinero's father and grandfather were London solicitors. They were descended from the Pinheiro family, described by Pinero's biographer John Dawick as "a distinguished family of Sephardic Jews who rose to prominence in medieval Portugal before suffering the persecutions of the Inquisition". Pinero's branch of the family fled to England. His grandfather abandoned the Jewish faith, became a member of the Church of England, married a Christian Englishwoman, Margaret Wing, and became a highly successful lawyer. His younger son, Pinero's father, also took up the legal profession, but was much less successful; Pinero was brought up in circumstances that were not poor but were not affluent. He attended Spa Fields Chapel charity school in Exmouth Street, Clerkenwell, London, until the age of ten, when he went to work in his father's office.

John Daniel Pinero died in May 1871, leaving very little money. To contribute to the family income, Pinero continued to work as a solicitor's clerk, earning £1 a week. In the evenings he studied elocution at the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution. He and his fellow students staged several productions of plays, and Pinero became irresistibly drawn to the theatre. In May 1874 he abandoned the legal profession and joined R. H. Wyndham at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, as a "general utility" actor. He made his professional debut in the small role of a groom in an adaptation of Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White.

Books by Arthur Wing Pinero

The Princess and the Butterfly Cover image

The Princess and the Butterfly

Comedy
Love Fear Comics Romance Castle Fun

The English-born Princess Pannonia had spent the twenty years of her marriage isolated in the Prince's remote Hungarian castle. Now widowed, she returns to London to re-engage with former friends, all fearfully facing middle-age. Can romance be rekin...

The Freaks: An Idyll of Suburbia Cover image

The Freaks: An Idyll of Suburbia

Comedy
Money Comics Culture Trust Mortality

When Mrs. Herrick's brother Charlie dies, he leaves his money in trust for members of the circus he used to own under the name of "Segantini's World Renowned Mammoth International Hippodrome and Museum of Living Marvels". When five of the Extraordina...

Iris Cover image

Iris

Comedy
Marriage Play Love Young Society Classics Relationships Women

"Iris" is a dramatic comedy that explores themes of love, family, and society through its portrayal of a young woman named Iris and her relationships with the people in her life. The play is notable for its witty dialogue and its sharp commentary on...

A Wife Without A Smile Cover image

A Wife Without A Smile

Comedy
Marriage Play Nature Comics Relationships

It is a classic play that explores the complexities of marriage and relationships in Victorian society. The play revolves around the character of Lady Carbury, a woman who appears to have everything but is deeply unhappy and unfulfilled in her marria...

Trelawny of the Wells Cover image

Trelawny of the Wells

Drama Music
Play Struggle Journey Life Desire Music Relationships

This is the story of a young actress named Rose Trelawny, who struggles to adapt to the changing times of the theatre world in the late 19th century. First performed in 1898, "Trelawny of the Wells" is a comedy-drama that explores the clash between...

Letty Cover image

Letty

Novel
Love Challenges Victorian Society Journey Life Desire Emotion Relationships Secret

This compelling story follows the life of Letty, a young woman who finds herself entangled in a web of romance, scandal, and personal transformation. Set in the backdrop of Victorian society, "Letty" explores the struggles and challenges faced by it...

The Profligate Cover image

The Profligate

Drama Novel Self-Help
Play Morality Self-Discovery Conflicts Relationships Literary Fiction Live Performances

"The Profligate" by Arthur Wing Pinero is a captivating novel that explores the consequences of a young man's reckless behavior and the path to redemption. Written by Arthur Wing Pinero, a prominent British playwright and novelist, this compelling st...

The Cabinet Minister Cover image

The Cabinet Minister

Satire Drama
Play Love Politics Act Corruption Experiences Ambition Hypocrisy

"A Cabinet Minister is forced to choose between his career and his wife in this gripping political drama by Arthur Wing Pinero." The Cabinet Minister is a play by Arthur Wing Pinero that was first performed in 1890. The play tells the story of Sir R...

The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith Cover image

The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith

Satire Drama
Family Marriage Play Love Redemption Happiness Sex Betrayal Relationships

What happens when a notorious woman falls in love with a rising politician? The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith by Arthur Wing Pinero is a Victorian melodrama that explores the themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. The story follows Agnes Ebbsmith, a b...

Amazons: A Farcical Romance Cover image

Amazons: A Farcical Romance

Satire Comedy Drama
Marriage Love Women's Rights Comedy Satire Society Identity Farce Gender roles

Amazons is a farcical romance by Arthur Wing Pinero that explores the outlandish idea of women wearing pants. The play centers around the predicament of the three daughters of the eccentric Marchioness of Castlejordan, who determined to have sons, ra...

Magistrate Cover image

Magistrate

Comedy Fiction Humour Drama
Marriage Love Social Satire Social Class Identity London Victorian era Family secrets Misunderstandings Comedy of manners Courtroom drama

The Magistrate, a Victorian comedy by Arthur Wing Pinero, centers on the intricate web of secrets and lies surrounding a seemingly respectable magistrate, Mr. Posket. He is a stern and upright figure, but his past holds a scandalous secret: a hidden...

Schoolmistress Cover image

Schoolmistress

Comedy Fiction Drama
Play Love School Deception Society Farce Relationships British Secret Humor Victorian era Theater Teachers Students College Mistress

The Schoolmistress is a Victorian farce by Arthur Wing Pinero, written in 1886. The play centers on Miss Caroline Dyott, the principal of a girls' school, who is secretly engaged to a young man but hides this relationship from the school's faculty a...

Dandy Dick Cover image

Dandy Dick

Comedy Humour Drama
Play Victorian Comedy Satire Farce Dialogue social commentary Humor English Theater Characters Wit

Dandy Dick is a Victorian farce by Arthur Wing Pinero, renowned for its witty dialogue and humorous situations. It follows the antics of a group of characters, including a Dean, his daughters, a dashing soldier, and a charming but deceitful gentleman...

Second Mrs. Tanqueray Cover image

Second Mrs. Tanqueray

Fiction Drama Tragedy
Marriage Drama Love Morality Victorian Redemption Social Class Reputation Society Past Theater Secrets

Second Mrs. Tanqueray is a late Victorian play exploring the complexities of societal norms, personal morality, and the weight of the past. Aubrey Tanqueray, a man of good standing, makes a bold decision to marry Paula, a woman with a scandalous past...

Gay Lord Quex Cover image

Gay Lord Quex

Satire Comedy Drama
Marriage Love Victorian Reputation Honor Reform Society Class Gender Past Morals Double standard

Gay Lord Quex is a satirical Victorian play that explores the complexities of reputation, societal expectations, and gender roles. It centers on Lord Quex, a man who desires to reform his past life of philandering and marry. However, his reputation p...

Benefit of the Doubt Cover image

Benefit of the Doubt

Comedy Fiction Drama
Family Love Morality Victorian Social Class Reputation Society Betrayal London Divorce Scandal

Benefit of the Doubt, set in Victorian London, explores the societal pressures and intricate dynamics within a family embroiled in a divorce scandal. The play follows a young woman facing public scrutiny as the 'other woman' in a legal case, and her...

"Mind The Paint" Girl Cover image

"Mind The Paint" Girl

Romance Fiction Drama
Love Redemption Sacrifice Betrayal Relationships social commentary Theatre Characters Fame Actors Musical Stardom

Mind the Paint Girl is a play by Arthur Wing Pinero that explores the effects of stardom on the star as well as those that love them. It tells the story of Lily Parradell, a young actress who rises to fame and must navigate the challenges of her newf...

In Chancery Cover image

In Chancery

Comedy
Crime Romance Farce Mistaken identity Detection Complications Memory Loss

In Chancery is a delightful farce by Arthur Wing Pinero. It features a cast of colorful characters who find themselves in a series of hilarious situations. There's Captain Dionysius McCafferty, a retired army officer; Dr. Titus, his eccentric medical...

Big Drum Cover image

Big Drum

Satire Comedy Drama
Comedy Satire Struggle Society Class London Relationships Ambition social commentary Irony Notoriety Self-advertisement

The Big Drum is a satirical play that explores themes of social climbing, ambition, and the pursuit of notoriety in late Victorian London. The play centers on Philip Mackworth, a struggling writer, and the various characters he encounters in his ques...

Squire Cover image

Squire

Romance Fiction Drama Tragedy
Love Tragedy Inheritance Social Class Duty Relationships Rural Life Family Drama Victorian England Moral Dilemma Financial ruin Country Estate

'Squire' by Arthur Wing Pinero delves into the intricate web of relationships and social pressures surrounding Kate Verity, a young woman facing the decline of her family's estate. As she navigates the complexities of love and duty, she grapples with...

Rocket Cover image

Rocket

Marriage Farce Lost relatives Protective parents Rich widows

Gentlemen out away from London, looking for wives. "I'm going to settle down, hearthrug and slippers and all that sort of thing." "So a lot of us have made up our minds to marry and retire from public life, and as I couldn't find any suitable partie...

Money-Spinner Cover image

Money-Spinner

Comedy Fiction Drama
Family Marriage Love Comedy Social Class Betrayal Gambling Crisis Debt Classism Financial Mishap

In "Money-Spinner", a man named Harold Boycott finds himself in a precarious situation when his younger brother incurs a significant gambling debt. To save his sibling from ruin, Harold borrows the necessary funds, putting his own financial stability...

Hobby-Horse Cover image

Hobby-Horse

Satire Comedy Drama
Marriage Play Love Comedy Social Class Society Conflict Wealth Relationships Theatre Husband Wife Philanthropy Horse Racing Hobby Interests

The play revolves around a husband and wife who have differing interests and priorities. Mrs. Spenser Jermyn is deeply involved in philanthropic endeavors, while her husband, Mr. Spenser Jermyn, is passionate about horse racing. This clash of person...

Sweet Lavender Cover image

Sweet Lavender

Comedy Romance Drama
Widow Romance Humor Housekeeper Gentle Physician Banker Barrister Modern fairy tale Hairdresser Solicitor Laundress

Sweet Lavender is a charming and humorous play that follows the lives of a group of young people as they navigate the ups and downs of love, marriage, and career. The play is set in London in the late 19th century and features a cast of well-develope...

Showing 1 to 24 of 29 results