William Wallace Young (7 September 1847 – 2 October 1920) was an American playwright, writer, and actor, best known for his play adaptation of '' Ben-Hur'' in 1899.Bates, Alfred (ed. American Drama p. 144 (1903)Burt, Daniel S The Chronology of American Literature p. 264 (2004)General Gossip of Authors and Writers ''Current Literature'', May 1899, Vol. XXV, No. 5, p. 402
Young was born in Monmouth, Illinois on 7 September 1845, the son of Dr. John A Young and Isabella Hogue Wallace. He was valedictorian and last surviving member of
Monmouth College
Monmouth College is a private Presbyterian liberal arts college in Monmouth, Illinois. Monmouth enrolls approximately 900 students from 21 countries who choose courses from 40 major programs, 43 minors, and 17 pre-professional programs in a ...
class of 1863, and married Arvilla Joan Parry there in 1866. He was still at home with his parents in the 1870 census of Monmouth, with "literature" listed as his occupation. He was shown as a playwright with his wife and 2 children in the 1880 census of Monmouth, Illinois; his obituary stated he left Monmouth 30 years prior to his death (circa 1890), but always considered it his home. His first play ''Jonquil'' opened at Booth's Theatre in New York in 1871. His first play to receive significant attention was ''Pendragon'' in 1881. His 1883 comedy '' The Rajah'' was panned by critics but commercially successful, playing for 256 shows in New York before going on the road.
He also acted some roles, and published a number of poems, including a volume titled ''Wishmaker's Town'' in 1885 which was republished in 1898 with an introduction by
Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Thomas Bailey Aldrich (; November 11, 1836 – March 19, 1907) was an American writer, poet, critic, and editor. He is notable for his long editorship of ''The Atlantic Monthly'', during which he published writers including Charles W. Chesnutt. ...
.
Young died at his summer residence, Burkhaven,
Lake Sunapee
Lake Sunapee is located within Sullivan County and Merrimack County in western New Hampshire, the United States. It is the fifth-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire.
The lake is approximately long (north-south) and from wide (east- ...
,
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...
on 2 October 1920, and was buried in Monmouth, Illinois on 10 October 1920.Mantle, Burns The Best Plays of 1920-21 p. 464 (1921)Young, Alexander Boston Letter ''The Critic'' (June 22, 1889), p. 311 Knowing that his time was short, he had just finished a historical play prior to his death (title unknown), asking that his daughter Nina transcribe it and ready it for publication.
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
''
*''Joan of Arc'' (1890) (adaptation of
Jules Barbier
Paul Jules Barbier (8 March 182516 January 1901) was a French poet, writer and opera librettist who often wrote in collaboration with Michel Carré. He was a noted Parisian bon vivant and man of letters.Ben-Hur'' (adaptation of novel) (1899)
*''A Chinese Nightingale'' (1903) (from Winnifred Eaton novel)Fisher, James & Felicia Hardison Londre The A to Z of American Theater: Modernism p. 531 (2008)The Authors Club p. 109 (1904) (list of Young's works)
References
External links
*
* at Syracuse University Wishmaker's Town (1898 edition with introduction by
Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Thomas Bailey Aldrich (; November 11, 1836 – March 19, 1907) was an American writer, poet, critic, and editor. He is notable for his long editorship of ''The Atlantic Monthly'', during which he published writers including Charles W. Chesnutt. ...