CHAPTER VI

Shakespeare again--From Macready to Irving; Phelps, Fechter, Ryder, Adelaide Neilson--Irving's Debut--His Career in the Provinces, and Visit to Paris--The role of Digby Grand--The role of Matthias--The Production of _Hamlet_--Successive Triumphs--Irving as Stage Manager--as an Editor of Shakespeare--His Defects as an Actor--Too great for some of his Parts--As a Writer and Lecturer; his Theory of Art--Sir Henry Irving, Head of his Profession 156