Lunatic, Sir Humphry
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
Pseudonym used by Irish actor, critic, playwright and author Francis Gentleman (1728-1784), whose working years were spent mostly in England, for a Proto SF imitation – and perhaps conscious Parody of – the Fantastic Voyage as found in the work of Cyrano de Bergerac and others; the tale, A Trip to the Moon: Containing an Account of the Island of Noibla, its Inhabitants, Religious and Political Customs, Etc (vol 1 1764, vol 2 1765), pales against earlier works. Its Satire consists of little more than sarcasms. The text was republished posthumously in Satiric Tales: Consisting of a Voyage to the Moon: All the Tailors; Or, the Old Cloak: And the Fat Witch of London (coll 1808) as by Nicholas Lunatic, FRS. Gentleman's work under his own name, including an egregious edition of the works of William Shakespeare, is undistinguished. [JC]
Francis Gentleman
born Dublin, Ireland: 23 October 1728
died Dublin, Ireland: 21 December 1784
works
- A Trip to the Moon: Containing an Account of the Island of Noibla, its Inhabitants, Religious and Political Customs, Etc (London: S Crowder, 1764 and 1765) [published in two volumes: binding unknown/]
- Satiric Tales: Consisting of a Voyage to the Moon: All the Tailors; Or, the Old Cloak: And the Fat Witch of London (London: George Hughes and H D Symonds, 1808) as by Nicholas Lunatic, FRS [coll: binding unknown/]
links
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