It Is Never Too Late To Mend

Reade began his literary career as a dramatist and he chose to have dramatist stand first in the list of his occupations on his tombstone. As an author he always had an eye to stage effect in scenes and situations as well as in dialogue. His first comedy The Ladies Battle appeared at the Olympic Theatre in May 1851. It was followed by Angela (1851) A Village Tale (1852) The Lost Husband (1852) and Gold (1853). But Reades reputation was made by the two-act comedy Masks and Faces in which he collaborated with Tom Taylor. It was produced in November 1852 and later was expanded into three acts. By the advice of the actress Laura Seymour he turned the play into a prose story which appeared in 1853 as Peg Woffington. The same year he wrote Christie Johnstone a close study of Scottish fisher folk. In 1854 he produced in conjunction with Tom Taylor Two Loves and a Life and The Kings Rival and unaided The Courier of Lyons (well known under its later title The Lyons Mail) and his adaptation of Tobias Smolletts Peregrine Pickle. In the next year appeared Art (1855) afterwards known as Nance Oldfield. He made his name as a novelist in 1856 when he published It Is Never Too Late to Mend a novel written to reform abuses in prison discipline and the treatment of criminals. The truth of some details was challenged and Reade defended himself vigorously. Five more novels followed in quick succession: The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth (1857) White Lies (1857) Jack of all Trades (1858) The Autobiography of a Thief (1858) and Love Me Little Love Me Long (1859). White Lies started as a translation of Auguste Maquets play Le Château de Grantier. After managers declined the manuscript Reade adapted the story weaving it into a novel which was serialised in The London Journal and published in three volumes the same year. He produced an adaptation of this on stage as The Double Marriage in 1867.