Fanny Kemble and La Estrella de Sevilla.

Abstract

This paper analyses and sets out possible reasons as to why the British actress and playwright Fanny Kemble wrote the play Star of Seville, based on the plot of La Estrella de Sevilla attributed to Lope de Vega. One of the main strands of this paper establishes the existence of a widespread attraction felt by the English towards Spain, rooted in the political and military assistance provided by the British army to the Spanish liberals in their struggle against the absolutism reigning in Spain. In fact, Fanny Kemble’s brother travelled to Spain to help General Torrijos; hence it should come as no surprise that the playwright felt close to Spain’s political reality, which would explain her interest in writing a play set in Seville. In addition to this line of research, this paper also analyses the differences and similarities between the two plays and the possible reasons that led the playwright to change the ending of the Spanish play.