Nathaniel Lee

Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653 – 6 May 1692) was an English dramatist. He was the son of Dr Richard Lee, a Presbyterian clergyman who was rector of Hatfield and held many preferments under the Commonwealth; Dr Lee was chaplain to George Monck, afterwards Duke of Albemarle, but after the Restoration he conformed to the Church of England, and withdrew his approval for Charles I's execution.

Lee was educated at Westminster School (though some sources say Charterhouse School), and at Trinity College, Cambridge, taking his B.A. degree in 1668. Coming to London, perhaps under the patronage of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, he tried to earn his living as an actor, but acute stage fright made this impossible. His earliest play, ''Nero, Emperor of Rome'', was acted in 1675 at Drury Lane. Two tragedies written in rhymed heroic couplets, in imitation of John Dryden, followed in 1676: ''Sophonisba, or Hannibal's Overthrow'' and ''Gloriana, or the Court of Augustus Caesar''. Both are extravagant in design and treatment.

Lee's reputation was made in 1677 with a blank verse tragedy, ''The Rival Queens, or the Death of Alexander the Great''. The play, which deals with the jealousy of Alexander's first wife, Roxana, for his second wife, Statira, was a favourite on the English stage right up to the days of Edmund Kean. Lee followed this with ''Mithridates, King of Pontus'' (acted 1678); ''Theodosius, or the Force of Love'' (acted 1680); and ''Caesar Borgia'' (acted 1680), an imitation of the worst blood and thunder Elizabethan tragedies. Lee was also named as a collaborator with Dryden in an adaptation of ''Oedipus'' (1679). ''The Princess of Cleve'' (1681) is an adaptation of Madame de La Fayette's 1678 novel of the same name. ''The Massacre of Paris'' was written about this time but not published until 1690.

''Lucius Junius Brutus'' (acted 1681) gave offence at court. The play was suppressed after its third representation for some lines on Tarquin's character that were taken to be a reflection on King Charles II. He therefore joined Dryden in ''The Duke of Guise'' (1683), a play which directly advocated the Tory point of view. In it part of the Massacre of Paris was incorporated. Lee was now thirty, and had already achieved a considerable reputation. ''Constantine the Great'' (acted 1683) followed.

He had lived in the dissipated society of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, and his associates, and imitated their excesses. As he grew more disreputable, his patrons neglected him, and by 1684 his mind was allegedly completely unhinged. He spent five years in the notorious Bedlam Hospital. He lamented his situation with the following missive: "They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me". He recovered and was released.

Lee died in a drunken fit in 1692. He was buried on 6 May in St. Clement Danes, Strand.

Lee's ''Dramatic Works'' were published in 1734. In spite of their extravagance, they contain many passages of great beauty. Copies of Lee's books remain sought after in bibliographic circles. Provided by Wikipedia

2
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1744
printed for R. Ware; J. Brindley; J. Osborn; C. Corbett; R. Wellington; R. Caldwell; and J. New

3
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1710
printed for a society of stationers and sold by J. Baker, at the Black-Boy in Pater-Noster-Row, and most booksellers

4
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1735
printed and sold by Robert Walker

5
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1704
printed for R. Wellington at the Dolphin and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, and E. Rumbal at the Post-House in Russel-Street, in Covent-Garden

6
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1735
printed for W. Feales , at Rowe's Head, against St. Clement's Church in the Strand ; R. Wellington, at the Dolphin and Crown, and C. Corbett , at Addison's Head, both without Temple-Bar ; J. Brindley , at the King's Arms in New Bond-Street ; A. Bettesworth, and F. Clay, in trust for B. Wellington

7
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1711
Printed for Richard Wellington in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1711. And sold by Francis Fawcet at the Kings-head and Crown, near Durham-yard in the Strand

8
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1728
printed for J. Darby in Bartholomew-Close, A. Bettesworth in Pater-Noster Row, and F. Clay without Temple-Bar ; all in trust for Richard, James, and Bethel Wellington: and sold also by Ri. Caldwell in Newgate Street

9
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1796
printed for C. Lowndes, No. 66, Drury-Lane, next the stage door

10
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1713
printed for Richard Wellington at the Dolphin and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCCXIII. - The Works of Mr. Wycherley collected into one Volume

11
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1711
printed for Rich. Wellington, at the Dolphin and Crown at the West End of St. Paul's Church-Yard, and sold by O. Lloyd, near the Temple-Church

12
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1797
printed for, and under the direction of, George Cawthorn, British Library, Strand

13
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1704
printed for Tho. Chapman, at the Angel in the Pall-Mall, over-against St. James's-Square

14
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1702
Printed for Rich. Wellington, at the Dolphin and Crown, at the West-End of St. Paul's Church-Yard; and E. Rumbald, in Covent-Garden

16
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1722
printed for M.P. and Sam. Chapman at the Angel in Pell-Mell; and sold by A. Bettesworth in Pater-Noster-Row, and F. Clay without Temple-Bar

17
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1753
printed for Peter Wilson, in Dame-Street

18
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1727
printed for J. Darby in Bartholomew-Close, A. Bettesworth in Paternoster Row, and F. Clay without Temple-Bar; all in trust for Richard, James, and Bethel Wellington: and sold also by Ri. Cadwell in Newgate Street

19
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1708
printed for Rich. Wellington, at the Dolphin and Crown at the West End of St. Paul's Church-Yard

20
by Lee, Nathaniel
Published 1779
printed for Harrison and Co. No. 18, Paternoster-Row; and sold, likewise, by J. Wenman, Fleet-Street; and all other booksellers