FORD, John (Ford John)

(1586 - ca. 1640)
Born in Devonshire, baptized April 17, 1586. On the life and work of the Ford knows little. Probably a few months he spent at Exeter College, Oxford University, followed by a November 1602 he studied at the legal corporation 'Middle Temple', which continued to be a member and in 1617. Other information about his activities as a lawyer has not survived. Records of the death of Ford's also not found.
With the exception of false information about a certain play, self-written by Ford in 1612, beginning his work for the theater should be attributed to 1621-1624, when he wrote five plays in collaboration with T. Dekker, at that time already a mature playwright. Of these, only two survived - Witch of Edmonton (The Witch of Edmonton, 1621) and the play-mask favorite of the Sun (The Sun's Darling, 1624), the third author of which was William Rowley (1585? -1642?).

Ford survived two plays for the troupe 'Servant of His Majesty'. Tragicomedy Melancholy love (The Lover's Melancholy, 1628) in the spirit of D. Fletcher distinguish strict thought-out plot and subtle psychology, it reflects the theory of R. Burton (1577-1640), developed them in the anatomy of melancholy (1621). In The Broken Heart (The Broken Heart, published in 1633, set earlier) specificity drama Ford manifested most clearly. It is tragic disappointments, whose action takes place in Sparta, forced marriage brings misfortune to all the heroes finale.

Ford - the author of five plays for the theater 'Phoenix'. In his most famous play, it can not be called slag (T'is pity she's a whore, published in 1633, set earlier) Ford returned to the methods of 'massacre' Jacobite era. Subject incest (love between brother and sister) developed with frank sympathy, though tragic end illicit passion preordained from the outset. Another romantic tragedy, Victim of Love (Love's Sacrifice, 1633), based on the complex conflict of feelings: a jealous duke - the second Othello - kills his wife, who remained faithful to him, being able to overcome his love for Fernando. Perkin Uorbek (Perkin Warbeck, publ. 1634) - the only noteworthy piece of this era on the subject of British history: the impostor pretends to be King Richard IV, but is rather a personal tragedy than a historical chronicle. The refined simplicity of this play contrasts sharply with written after her is not quite normal, apparently failed comedy Pure and lofty dreams (The Fancies Chaste and Noble, was published in 1638). Restraint style stage play trial Lady (The Lady's Trial, 1638): his wife, falsely accused of infidelity, in the end justified. According to new data, Peru Ford also owns the tragicomedy of the Queen, or the perfection of Women (The Queen, or The Excellency of her Sex, was published anonymously in 1653).

Ford worked in a recession in the British drama, when range of topics and situations that developed during the initial recovery, was already exhausted. This explains his attention to an entertaining storyline and focus on the traditions of the Italian theater in the construction of intrigue.