Edward
Bulwer-Lytton is less known today for his good plays than he is for his for his
bad novels. His novel Paul Clifford
(which was itself successfully adapted for the stage) begins with the infamous
line: "It was a dark and stormy night..."
Born
Edward Bulwer, he married against his mother's wishes, and had a turbulent
relationship with his bride, Rosina Doyle Wheeler. After their marriage, his
mother cut off the allowance he had previously lived on, so to make money, he
began to write.
He
had previously published a few poems, but beginning in 1828 he wrote a series
of popular novels including Pelham, The Disowned, and The Last Days of Pompeii. In 1838, he had a stage hit with The Lady of Lyons, which starred Helen Faucit and William Charles Macready.
After
his mother died in 1843, Edward Bulwer changed his surname to Bulwer-Lytton,
adding her maiden name to his own in compliance with her will (thus, allowing
himself to inherit her fortune). He
seems to have genuinely mourned her, though, and had already come to regret the
marriage she had opposed. He legally separated from Rosina in 1836, and after that,
she began to publish her own novels, which rivaled his in sensationalism
and sometimes included thinly veiled attacks on her ex-husband.
In
1839, the year Rosina published her first novel, Cheveley, he had his second stage success, Richelieu; or, The Conspiracy. The historical drama opens with the
enemies of France's King Louis XIII planning to revolt, forcing the king to
abdicate power to his brother. They also scheme to murder the king’s top
adviser, Cardinal Richelieu. That part was played by Macready, who portrayed
him both as a cunning politician and as a loving father figure to his adopted
ward, Julie de Mortemar. Julie is in love with one of the conspirators, the Chevalier
de Mauprat. The cardinal craftily arranges to pardon de Mauprat and marry him
to Julie, thus turning an enemy into an ally.
Unfortunately,
the king has taken a liking to Julie and wants her as his mistress. Scarcely
have the marriage rites been performed, when de Mauprat is ordered to abandon
his bride. Julie runs to the cardinal, accusing him of betrayal, but he
convinces her to trust him. As his enemies close in on him, Richelieu feigns death.
Even after he reveals himself to be alive, the king continues to oppose him,
until in the final act Richelieu is able to secure a document signed by the
conspirators confirming their treason. France is saved, and Julie is reunited
with her husband.
Unfortunately,
Bulwer-Lytton’s life was not so happy. He might have fancied himself a sort of
Richelieu, but he lacked the finesse of the great statesman. In 1858, when
Bulwer-Lytton was standing for parliament, his estranged wife denounced him
publicly. He had her declared insane and placed in an asylum, but after a
public outcry she was released. Still, the scandal did not prevent him from
being made a baron in 1866.
