thomas bowdler

English - English

Definition of thomas bowdler in English English dictionary

{i} (1754-1825) English editor who censored and published Shakespeare's writings for family reading

born July 11, 1754, Ashley, near Bath, Somerset, Eng. died Feb. 24, 1825, Rhydding, near Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales English physician, philanthropist, and man of letters. He is known for his Family Shakspeare (1818), in which, by expurgation and paraphrase, he aimed to provide an edition of the plays suitable for a father to read aloud to his family without fear of offending their susceptibilities or corrupting their minds. The first edition (1807) contained a selection of 20 plays that probably were expurgated by Bowdler's sister, Harriet

Hyphenation

Thom·as bowdler