Making Belief: Epistemology and Scenography in John Home's Theatrical Adaptation of Ossian

Ephraim Levinson

doi:10.1093/camqtly/bfad009

Making Belief: Epistemology and Scenography in John Home's Theatrical Adaptation of Ossian

Ephraim Levinson

Department of Theatre

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Abstract

John Home's The Fatal Discovery is an unusual intervention in the controversy over James Macpherson's 'translations' of Ossian. In this article, I argue that Home's play is not simply an adaptation of an Ossianic poem; it makes a case for the historical truth of Ossian's narrative. In doing so, Home confronted the philosophy of his close friend and relative, David Hume, and appropriated the scenographic changes made to Drury-Lane Theatre by David Garrick in the 1760s.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	157-175
Number of pages	19
Journal	Cambridge Quarterly
Volume	52
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/camqtly/bfad009
Publication status	Published - 14 Jul 2023

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title = "Making Belief: Epistemology and Scenography in John Home's Theatrical Adaptation of Ossian",

abstract = "John Home's The Fatal Discovery is an unusual intervention in the controversy over James Macpherson's 'translations' of Ossian. In this article, I argue that Home's play is not simply an adaptation of an Ossianic poem; it makes a case for the historical truth of Ossian's narrative. In doing so, Home confronted the philosophy of his close friend and relative, David Hume, and appropriated the scenographic changes made to Drury-Lane Theatre by David Garrick in the 1760s.",

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AB - John Home's The Fatal Discovery is an unusual intervention in the controversy over James Macpherson's 'translations' of Ossian. In this article, I argue that Home's play is not simply an adaptation of an Ossianic poem; it makes a case for the historical truth of Ossian's narrative. In doing so, Home confronted the philosophy of his close friend and relative, David Hume, and appropriated the scenographic changes made to Drury-Lane Theatre by David Garrick in the 1760s.

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Making Belief: Epistemology and Scenography in John Home's Theatrical Adaptation of Ossian

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