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Second Mrs. Tanqueray
Book by Pinero, Arthur W., Landes, William-Alan
70 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1893
3 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Wing Pinero
154 books5 followersSir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English actor and later an important dramatist and stage director.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 2, 2021
A play shows the life of " a woman with a past" in victorian England.
I couldn't figure out what pinero was trying to tell us.
Did he think that male promiscuity is condoned and the female version isn't, or he was just trying to satisfy the audience by this play?
However, it worth reading after all .
I couldn't figure out what pinero was trying to tell us.
Did he think that male promiscuity is condoned and the female version isn't, or he was just trying to satisfy the audience by this play?
However, it worth reading after all .
January 25, 2023
An interesting play. I'm still gathering my thoughts on this one, but I'm glad I've read it.
December 12, 2020
A widower marries a woman with a past, knowing that all his friends and relatives will no longer visit them. But eventually the past confronts them.
October 19, 2022
A fascinating read for thinking about Victorian attitudes. The shift through the play from comedy to melodrama to tragedy was skilful.
March 26, 2025
Read for uni - very interesting, I think I will read again outside of uni.
September 5, 2018
Probably about a 2.5.
Read for class and so the rating could go up once I've analyzed it.
Read for class and so the rating could go up once I've analyzed it.
August 24, 2023
This is my second time reading Arthur Wing Pinero, I absolutely loved his "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray"! When I finished this play, I kept on thinking about Paula and I was totally shocked at the ending. While reading Daphne du Maurier's Gerald; A portrait
which is mentions this play. How times have changed and the social stigma of a woman's past is nothing like it was looked at back then. This play pulled at my heart strings.
Play in short- Aubrey tells his friends he is going to be married to a lady that might not be welcomed by them.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 17
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE ON Saturday, May 27, 1893.
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
Aubrey Tanqueray.
Paula.
Ellean.
Cayley Drummle.
Mrs. Cortelyon.
Captain Hugh Ardale.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 20
Gordon Jayne, M.D.
Frank Misquith, Q.C., M.P.
Sir George Orreyed, Bart.
Lady Orreyed.
Morse.
The Present Day. The Scene of the First Act is laid at Mr. Tanqueray's rooms, No. 2x, The Albany, in the month of November; the occurrences of the succeeding
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 23
Acts take place at his house, "Highercoombe," near Willowmere, Surrey, during the early part of the following year.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 53
Aubrey. Well, when my wife died I cleared out of that house and let it. I think of trying the place again. Misquith. But you'll go raving mad if ever you find yourself down there alone. Aubrey.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 56
Ah, but I sha'n't be alone, and that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm going to be married. Jayne. Going to be married? Misquith. Married? Aubrey. Yes—to-morrow.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 71
Aubrey. I know what you're going to say, Frank. I hope so, too. In the meantime let's face dangers. I've reminded you of the usual course of things, but my marriage isn't even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society. Now, Cayley's a bachelor, but you two men have wives. By-the-bye, my love to Mrs. Misquith and to Mrs. Jayne when you get home—don't forget that. Well, your wives may not—like—the lady I'm going to marry. Jayne. Aubrey, forgive me for suggesting that the lady you are going to marry may not like our wives— mine at least; I beg your pardon, Frank. Aubrey.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 76
Quite so; then I must go the way my wife goes. Misquith. Come, come, pray don't let us anticipate that either side will be called upon to make such a sacrifice.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 82
Misquith. But—but—do I understand we are to ask nothing? Not even the lady's name, Aubrey?
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 83
Aubrey. The lady, my dear Frank, belongs to the next chapter, and in that her name is Mrs. Aubrey Tanqueray.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 94
Misquith. "My marriage is not even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society." Jayne. Bless me, yes! What does that suggest? Misquith. That he has a particular rather than a general reason for anticipating estrangement from his friends, I'm afraid.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 97
Jayne. A horrible mésalliance! A dairymaid who has given him a glass of milk during a day's hunting, or a little anæmic shopgirl! Frank, I'm utterly wretched!
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Cayley Drummle is friends with Aubrey Tanqueray and is one of the friends the Aubrey invited for his last dinner of his bachelor hood. Three other friends also hear that Aubrey is to marry again but Cayley is the only one that visits the couple in their country home. Aubrey discloses his future bride's name only to Cayley who knew Aubrey's first wife who died years ago when their daughter was young. The first Mrs. Tanqueray was a cold hearted beauty that Aubrey finally won but her heart remained stone like. She was religious and wanted their daughter Ellean to be educated in a convent and Aubrey promised his wife before her death to leave their daughter there, instead of being a comfort at home with him. Before he decided to remarry he tried to see if his daughter would come home with him and not take up orders as a nun. Aubrey has found a 27 years old woman, twenty years his junior. He fears that his fiance's past life will be something that his set would reject and shun her. Paula sees her fiance before their marriage and gives him a letter that has her whole past life which included lovers, Aubrey refuses to read and burns it in the fireplace, telling her that he accepts she had a past and looks to make her happy. Soon after Aubrey has a letter from his daughter saying that she is coming home to comfort him, not knowing he is to remarry and saying that she knows her mother would approve of comforting him. The next act they are together in the country for months, Paula would like to have visitors but they are shunned because of her past. Paula would love her step daughter love her or at least like her but Ellean is distant and cold. Aubrey tells his friend that he is worried about Paula's influence of his sainted daughter, Cayley tells him that he must be prepared for his daughter coming to the ground. Paula confronts Aubrey about not encouraging his daughter to be favorable to her, he admits this. When Mrs. Cortelyon, a neighbor and childhood friend of the first Mrs. Tanqueray comes for the first time to visit, the main reason is to take Ellean to Paris with her. Paula is upset, with being ignored for months and then taking Ellean away from her, she truly wants this relationship. She is upset at Aubrey and invites the Orreyeds, a Lord that married way beneath him and a fortune hunter, Paula is friends with Lady Orreyeds but invites this couple now because she knows her husband does not like them. Paula loves her husband but wants him to not just love her but respect her. The tensions since the Orreyeds came, Paula no longer likes her friend but she is too upset. Lady Orreyed is a selfish self centered person and her husband is a prodigal son whose family rejects him since his marriage. Cayley tries to get Aubrey and Paula together, Paula tells him her heart and that she is jealous of her husband love and respect for his daughter, Paula confesses to Cayley that she has stolen letters to Aubrey from his daughter, which she finally gives to Aubrey, who is happy that his wife still loves him and wants the Orreyeds to leave. He has not read his letters yet when his daughter and Mrs. Cortelyon arrive back from Paris. Mrs. Cortelyon has Aubrey guess that his daughter is in love and wants to marry the military hero of recent, Captain Hugh Ardale. Aubrey hears that his daughter has accepted affections but how much that is seems to be only kissing and he sees his angel is tainted. While he takes Mrs. Cortelyon back to her home and see young Ardale, who came back with the ladies. Ellean confesses that her lover has come over on his own and introduces him to Paula. Paula and Ardale already know each other and while Ellean is upstairs, Paula and Ardale are upset what to do with knowing that they used to be lovers in Paris. Paula tells him that she must tell her husband but Ardale threatens her saying he loves Ellean and doesn't want to give her up. He leaves and it is found out took a train to Paris looking to her and Tanqueray's response. Paula tells her husband, reminding him of the letter he burned that had Ardale's name. Ellean confronts Paula accusing her of causing trouble and when her father tells her the truth, his daughter leaves. He tells Paula that they will go abroad and be happy but Paula refuses where in the past she would have accepted, she sees the futility and her husband in the future accusing her and he would see her like others do and her beauty fading, which he will notice. Aubrey tells his daughter earlier to be kind to Paula but when she hears about Ardale leaving she fights with Paula, the look she gives shows Paula that hearing of her and Ardale being lovers in the past. Ellean had known that Ardale had a past, forgave him and looked to marry but Paula she condemns. Paula tells her husband that she has to leave him that it will not work out and she is not going to her past life. Ellean looks to apologize to Paula but enters too late right after Paula kills herself. She blames herself in killing Paula not being kinder.
Aubrey finally had a wife that truly loved him and he let his feelings of propriety for his sainted daughter, cause his wife to feel rejected, killing herself. Aubrey and Ellen will have each other until she finds a new lover to marry but his loss is going to be immense! I wanted Paula to be happy and this made me cry that she killed herself. Ardale being a male can get over his past but Paula can not overcome this without her husband rising above and helping her by standing with her.
which is mentions this play. How times have changed and the social stigma of a woman's past is nothing like it was looked at back then. This play pulled at my heart strings.
Play in short- Aubrey tells his friends he is going to be married to a lady that might not be welcomed by them.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 17
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE ON Saturday, May 27, 1893.
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
Aubrey Tanqueray.
Paula.
Ellean.
Cayley Drummle.
Mrs. Cortelyon.
Captain Hugh Ardale.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 20
Gordon Jayne, M.D.
Frank Misquith, Q.C., M.P.
Sir George Orreyed, Bart.
Lady Orreyed.
Morse.
The Present Day. The Scene of the First Act is laid at Mr. Tanqueray's rooms, No. 2x, The Albany, in the month of November; the occurrences of the succeeding
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 23
Acts take place at his house, "Highercoombe," near Willowmere, Surrey, during the early part of the following year.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 53
Aubrey. Well, when my wife died I cleared out of that house and let it. I think of trying the place again. Misquith. But you'll go raving mad if ever you find yourself down there alone. Aubrey.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 56
Ah, but I sha'n't be alone, and that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm going to be married. Jayne. Going to be married? Misquith. Married? Aubrey. Yes—to-morrow.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 71
Aubrey. I know what you're going to say, Frank. I hope so, too. In the meantime let's face dangers. I've reminded you of the usual course of things, but my marriage isn't even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society. Now, Cayley's a bachelor, but you two men have wives. By-the-bye, my love to Mrs. Misquith and to Mrs. Jayne when you get home—don't forget that. Well, your wives may not—like—the lady I'm going to marry. Jayne. Aubrey, forgive me for suggesting that the lady you are going to marry may not like our wives— mine at least; I beg your pardon, Frank. Aubrey.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 76
Quite so; then I must go the way my wife goes. Misquith. Come, come, pray don't let us anticipate that either side will be called upon to make such a sacrifice.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 82
Misquith. But—but—do I understand we are to ask nothing? Not even the lady's name, Aubrey?
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 83
Aubrey. The lady, my dear Frank, belongs to the next chapter, and in that her name is Mrs. Aubrey Tanqueray.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 94
Misquith. "My marriage is not even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society." Jayne. Bless me, yes! What does that suggest? Misquith. That he has a particular rather than a general reason for anticipating estrangement from his friends, I'm afraid.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 97
Jayne. A horrible mésalliance! A dairymaid who has given him a glass of milk during a day's hunting, or a little anæmic shopgirl! Frank, I'm utterly wretched!
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Cayley Drummle is friends with Aubrey Tanqueray and is one of the friends the Aubrey invited for his last dinner of his bachelor hood. Three other friends also hear that Aubrey is to marry again but Cayley is the only one that visits the couple in their country home. Aubrey discloses his future bride's name only to Cayley who knew Aubrey's first wife who died years ago when their daughter was young. The first Mrs. Tanqueray was a cold hearted beauty that Aubrey finally won but her heart remained stone like. She was religious and wanted their daughter Ellean to be educated in a convent and Aubrey promised his wife before her death to leave their daughter there, instead of being a comfort at home with him. Before he decided to remarry he tried to see if his daughter would come home with him and not take up orders as a nun. Aubrey has found a 27 years old woman, twenty years his junior. He fears that his fiance's past life will be something that his set would reject and shun her. Paula sees her fiance before their marriage and gives him a letter that has her whole past life which included lovers, Aubrey refuses to read and burns it in the fireplace, telling her that he accepts she had a past and looks to make her happy. Soon after Aubrey has a letter from his daughter saying that she is coming home to comfort him, not knowing he is to remarry and saying that she knows her mother would approve of comforting him. The next act they are together in the country for months, Paula would like to have visitors but they are shunned because of her past. Paula would love her step daughter love her or at least like her but Ellean is distant and cold. Aubrey tells his friend that he is worried about Paula's influence of his sainted daughter, Cayley tells him that he must be prepared for his daughter coming to the ground. Paula confronts Aubrey about not encouraging his daughter to be favorable to her, he admits this. When Mrs. Cortelyon, a neighbor and childhood friend of the first Mrs. Tanqueray comes for the first time to visit, the main reason is to take Ellean to Paris with her. Paula is upset, with being ignored for months and then taking Ellean away from her, she truly wants this relationship. She is upset at Aubrey and invites the Orreyeds, a Lord that married way beneath him and a fortune hunter, Paula is friends with Lady Orreyeds but invites this couple now because she knows her husband does not like them. Paula loves her husband but wants him to not just love her but respect her. The tensions since the Orreyeds came, Paula no longer likes her friend but she is too upset. Lady Orreyed is a selfish self centered person and her husband is a prodigal son whose family rejects him since his marriage. Cayley tries to get Aubrey and Paula together, Paula tells him her heart and that she is jealous of her husband love and respect for his daughter, Paula confesses to Cayley that she has stolen letters to Aubrey from his daughter, which she finally gives to Aubrey, who is happy that his wife still loves him and wants the Orreyeds to leave. He has not read his letters yet when his daughter and Mrs. Cortelyon arrive back from Paris. Mrs. Cortelyon has Aubrey guess that his daughter is in love and wants to marry the military hero of recent, Captain Hugh Ardale. Aubrey hears that his daughter has accepted affections but how much that is seems to be only kissing and he sees his angel is tainted. While he takes Mrs. Cortelyon back to her home and see young Ardale, who came back with the ladies. Ellean confesses that her lover has come over on his own and introduces him to Paula. Paula and Ardale already know each other and while Ellean is upstairs, Paula and Ardale are upset what to do with knowing that they used to be lovers in Paris. Paula tells him that she must tell her husband but Ardale threatens her saying he loves Ellean and doesn't want to give her up. He leaves and it is found out took a train to Paris looking to her and Tanqueray's response. Paula tells her husband, reminding him of the letter he burned that had Ardale's name. Ellean confronts Paula accusing her of causing trouble and when her father tells her the truth, his daughter leaves. He tells Paula that they will go abroad and be happy but Paula refuses where in the past she would have accepted, she sees the futility and her husband in the future accusing her and he would see her like others do and her beauty fading, which he will notice. Aubrey tells his daughter earlier to be kind to Paula but when she hears about Ardale leaving she fights with Paula, the look she gives shows Paula that hearing of her and Ardale being lovers in the past. Ellean had known that Ardale had a past, forgave him and looked to marry but Paula she condemns. Paula tells her husband that she has to leave him that it will not work out and she is not going to her past life. Ellean looks to apologize to Paula but enters too late right after Paula kills herself. She blames herself in killing Paula not being kinder.
Aubrey finally had a wife that truly loved him and he let his feelings of propriety for his sainted daughter, cause his wife to feel rejected, killing herself. Aubrey and Ellen will have each other until she finds a new lover to marry but his loss is going to be immense! I wanted Paula to be happy and this made me cry that she killed herself. Ardale being a male can get over his past but Paula can not overcome this without her husband rising above and helping her by standing with her.
July 30, 2018
Free Audio Book to Download at Librivox.Org:
https://librivox.org/the-second-mrs-t...
https://librivox.org/the-second-mrs-t...
February 26, 2016
I had to read this for university and I have to admit I kinda liked it. Once you get into the acts at the beginning, it's very easy and quick to read. I liked how the characters have more than just one side to them.
I was actually really surprised by the ending and somehow caught off guard. It bothered me initially, but now that I think about it, there are no loose ends. I'm not a huge fan of it, but it's realistic, so it's fine I guess.
I was actually really surprised by the ending and somehow caught off guard. It bothered me initially, but now that I think about it, there are no loose ends. I'm not a huge fan of it, but it's realistic, so it's fine I guess.
January 26, 2017
No estoy muy seguro si la calificación son 4 estrellas exactas o 3.75. Realmente me gustó mucho la trama, los personajes estuvieron interesantes, no es el plot más ¡wow! del mundo, y tampoco son tan claros muchos de los puntos de la historia, pero fue una lectura que disfrute.
October 8, 2017
One of the better plays I've read thus far. Although, the ending is disappointing, it was too abrupt and left a few unanswered questions. The Fallen Woman is rescued but she is the one who cannot forgive herself.
October 26, 2011
Similar twist to Edith Wharton's "the reef" but different outcome.
March 19, 2021
This turn of the 20th century play was an easy read of British upper crust marrying 'below' their kind. The double standard of boys will be boys with lower class women, but those women are tarnished forever is on display.
Unfortunately that theme is distinctly tarnished because the main fallen woman, Paula, who becomes the Second Mrs. Tanqueray, has a personality that runs from I want to be loved to I detest everything about a person who loves me. These wild swings are not accompanied by dialogue which sustain or explain them.
As a play, all we have are dialog and stage directions. The lack of character motivation detracted from the story's impact, which emphasized the melodrama that concluded with Paula committing suicide.
BTW. Play is available for free download from Project Gutenberg.
Unfortunately that theme is distinctly tarnished because the main fallen woman, Paula, who becomes the Second Mrs. Tanqueray, has a personality that runs from I want to be loved to I detest everything about a person who loves me. These wild swings are not accompanied by dialogue which sustain or explain them.
As a play, all we have are dialog and stage directions. The lack of character motivation detracted from the story's impact, which emphasized the melodrama that concluded with Paula committing suicide.
BTW. Play is available for free download from Project Gutenberg.
February 1, 2019
Really quite boring, to be honest. An interesting look on how fallen women were treated in late Victorian society, but there isn't much more that I can say about this play. Just quite dull and boring. No liveliness to it at all.
December 2, 2019
Badass female plays! Yes please.
May was definitely play month.
May was definitely play month.
June 28, 2022
Pretty good, getting better as we get closer to modern English, and what looks more like a typical play.
May 6, 2024
Like I am assuming many others, I had never heard of this play until it was put on the syllabus for my Victorian Lit class (specifically Victorian Marriage Lit).
While listening to the poor in quality but essential dramatic reading of this I was surprised at my liking of this play.
It reads fairly quick (especially with a dramatic recording put on 2x speed) and leaves you with questions on Pinero's intent. I think this play is refreshing when comparing it to the other Victorian plays of the time as it asks its target society important and valid questions of performance in marriage.
Overall a solid 4.
While listening to the poor in quality but essential dramatic reading of this I was surprised at my liking of this play.
It reads fairly quick (especially with a dramatic recording put on 2x speed) and leaves you with questions on Pinero's intent. I think this play is refreshing when comparing it to the other Victorian plays of the time as it asks its target society important and valid questions of performance in marriage.
Overall a solid 4.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews