PINERO, ARTHUR WING (1855—).
An English dramatist. He was born in London, Slay 24, 1855, of Jewish ancestry on his father's side. He began his studies with a view• to the practice of law, which he abandoned, however, and made his appearance as an :tutor at Edin burgh in 1874. Subsequently he was a member of the Lyceum company, and obtained under Henry Irving a practical experience in stage craft which was of great value to him. About 1876 he made, with Taro l'aA Play at That Game, his first attempt at play-writing, to which after 1881 he devoted himself. llis eomedietta Two Hundred a Year was produced at the Globe Theatre in 1877. In the long list of his later plays• which have been for the most part very successful• are: 7'hr Money Spinner ( $80) : The Squire (1881); Lords and Commons (l883) ; The llorket (1883) : The ]krgist•ate (1883; pub lished, London, 1892) ; 7'ho Schoolmistress (1S86; published 189J): 7'hr Ilobby Horse (1886; pub lished 1892): Dandy Dirk ( 1887: published 18931; Street Laa•cncler (1888; published 18931: The Weak-0- Sri (1888; published 1894)c The Profligate 11880; published 1891); The. Cabinet
Minister (181)0; published 1892) : Lad y Bounti f ul published 18921; The ma.-.-ons( 1893; published 1895); 7'hc Second lirs. Tanqueray (1893; published 1805) : 7'hr Notorious+ Mrs. Ebbsmith I 1895; published 1895) ; 7'he Benefit of the Doubt (1895; published 18951; 7'hr Prioress and the RullertlY (1897 ; published 18981: Tre latency of the (1898; published 1899) ; The (lay Lord ()vex (1800; published 1900) ; Iris (1901; publishes] 1902). Of his earlier pieees the most popular was perhaps the domestic drama called] Sc•re( Larcnler. Pinero's greatest work, however, is eon to he The Second .11 rs. Ta n urea y. mt which the battle of the critics has been waged over the fundamental questions of the problem play of modern society. Its eleverness and dramatie force make it an admirable example of its kind.