Our American Cousin

Our American Cousin is a three-act play written by British playwright Tom Taylor in 1869. The play is set in mid-19th century America and follows the story of a young Englishman named Lord Dundreary, who travels to Washington D.C. to visit his American relatives. Along the way, he meets a cast of colorful characters, including his cousin's fianc�����, a Southern belle named Mary Meredith, and a group of politicians who are embroiled in the debates of the day.The play is best known for its association with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln attended a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. During the third act of the play, John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the head. The play's final lines, spoken by Dundreary, were drowned out by the commotion that followed the shooting.Despite its tragic association with Lincoln's death, Our American Cousin was a popular and successful play in its own right. It was known for its witty dialogue, slapstick humor, and satirical commentary on American society. The play has been adapted for film and television numerous times, and it remains a notable work of 19th century drama.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.