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form y separately published work icon A Foreground for Fanny single work   radio play  
Issue Details: First known date: 1934... 1934 A Foreground for Fanny
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A radio play exploring the introduction of Percy Bysshe Shelley into the Godwin household c. 1812.

Fanny Imlay was one of Godwin's two stepdaughters, the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft and Gilbert Imlay. She was left behind when Shelley eloped with Mary and her stepsister Claire Clairmont in 1814: she later committed suicide, in part, it is said, at her continued isolation from the Shelley household.

Notes

  • [FL]

  • Was one of the winners of an ABC competition for 'original plays and sketches by Australian writers, suit able for broadcasting'. The first prize went to James Bradford, a Queensland writer, for The Puppet. Dann's play won one of the supplementary prizes.

    See 'Original Plays', Examiner, 21 November 1934, p.7.

Production Details

  • First broadcast on 7 February 1935, as part of a double-bill with another play form the competition: 'Beauty's Lure' by Leonore Drexler.

    Characters: 'William Godwin, a philosopher known as "The Sage of Skinner-street;" Mrs. Godwin, his second wife; Mary Godwin, his daughter by his first wife, Mary Wollstonecraft; Jane Clairmont, [sic] Mrs. Godwin's daughter by her first husband; Fanny Imlay, daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft and Gilbert Imlay, adopted by the Godwins; Percy Bysshe Shelley, a rising young poet.' ('On the Air', Central Queensland Herald, 31 January 1935, p.57.)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1934
      ca. 1935 .
      Extent: 35 leavesp.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Series: The Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts series - publisher

      A collection in the Fryer Library at The University of Queensland of manuscript film and play scripts.

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Location: Hanger Collection of Australian Manuscripts
      Local Id: H0385
      Note:
      Two copies, both 35 leaves, one with handwritten note on title page 'Donated by G.L.Dann 3 May 1977' and some pencil emendations to interior text, the other with the typescript address on front page crossed out and a different handwritten address substituted.
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()
Last amended 22 Apr 2016 10:41:02
Subjects:
Settings:
  • c
    England,
    c
    c
    United Kingdom (UK),
    c
    Western Europe, Europe,
  • ca. 1811-1814
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