Search the Collection

Charles Reade

(1814-1884), Novelist and dramatist

Sitter in 3 portraits
Pursued a mildly Bohemian existence in Soho and was a staunch member of the Garrick club. He was thirty-eight when his first novel, Peg Woffington, appeared, and he achieved his first great success with It is Never too Late to Mend in 1856. He had tried to make his mark as a playwright, and his first three novels were all initially written as plays. His most successful theatrical venture was the play, Drink (1879), adapted from Zola's L'assomoire. Although critical opinion of his work varied, there were some contemporary critics who regarded The Cloister and the Hearth (1861) as one of the greatest English historical novel. All his novels are now out of print.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Charles Reade, attributed to Charles Mercier - NPG 2281

Charles Reade

attributed to Charles Mercier
oil on canvas, circa 1870
NPG 2281

Charles Reade, by Percy Fitzgerald - NPG 1633

Charles Reade

by Percy Fitzgerald
plaster cast of bust, circa 1870s-1884
NPG 1633

Charles Reade, by George Goodman - NPG x136252

Charles Reade

by George Goodman
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870-1884
NPG x136252

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.