The Second Mrs Tanqueray

Aubrey Tanqueray willingly withdraws from London society to marry his second wife, for Paula Ray has had a notorious past. She has all the warmth that Aubrey's first wife lacked. But in the country, ostracized by the respectable, their relationship becomes intolerably strained. Paula realises that her past will always harm those she loves. Even before Aubrey is told of Paula's suicide he curses men of his class who wreak such incalculable harm merely by leading a 'man's life'.

The Second Mrs. Tanqueray was the theatrical sensation of the London stage in 1893. It established Pinero as the leading English dramatist of serious social issues, and created a star out of Mrs. Patrick Campbell in the title role. The play recounts the marriage of a “woman with a past” and how it fails because of the double standard of morality applied unequally and hypocritically by Victorian society to men and women. This Broadview edition includes a thoroughly revised text based on the author’s manuscript, the prompt copy for the first production, and the published first edition; it also incorporates pertinent stage directions from the first production. The critical introduction examines all facets of the play and its production, and the appendices make accessible a wide variety of hard-to-find contemporary contextual materials related to the play.

The Second Mrs. Tanqueray was the theatrical sensation of the London stage in 1893. It established Pinero as the leading English dramatist of serious social issues, and created a star out of Mrs. Patrick Campbell in the title role. The play recounts the marriage of a “woman with a past” and how it fails because of the double standard of morality applied unequally and hypocritically by Victorian society to men and women. This Broadview edition includes a thoroughly revised text based on the author’s manuscript, the prompt copy for the first production, and the published first edition; it also incorporates pertinent stage directions from the first production. The critical introduction examines all facets of the play and its production, and the appendices make accessible a wide variety of hard-to-find contemporary contextual materials related to the play.

"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" by Arthur Wing Pinero is a gripping drama that delves into the complexities of love, morality, and societal expectations in Victorian England. The play centers around the character of Paula Tanqueray, a woman with a troubled past who marries for the second time and must grapple with the consequences of her previous actions. As Paula navigates the challenges of her new marriage and attempts to integrate into high society, she faces judgment and scrutiny from those around her. Despite her efforts to leave her past behind, Paula finds herself haunted by the shadows of her former life, leading to tensions and conflicts with her husband, his family, and society at large. Pinero's masterful storytelling and rich character development draw audiences into Paula's world, inviting them to empathize with her struggles and dilemmas. Through Paula's experiences, the play explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring impact of one's past choices.