Jonathan Dewhurst: the Curtain Falls, Philip and Susan Taylor, Matador, 2011, ISBN 978-1848767-263. £12-00.

In 2001 Philip and Susan Taylor published their Jonathan Dewhurst: The Lancashire Tragedian. In this work they introduced the life and work of Philip's distant relative, Jonathan Dewhurst, who had been an actor and manager of the Theatre Royal in Leigh in the later part of the 19^th Century. At this stage they initially imagined that their rigorous research had done justice to the memory of his great-great uncle. However this publication stimulated a huge number of responses from distant relations and other contacts, and these revealed the degree to which what they had reported was only part of the story. The result has been that they have now produced what they insist is their final published commentary on Jonathan Dewhurst's life, in which they complement the previous volume with a great deal of data from his life, and the lives of his theatrical and other descendants. Their book is entitled Jonathan Dewhurst: the Curtain Falls, implying at least that they have completed their exploration. However one senses that, as a result of this book, more information may yet emerge.

This second book very much reflects the direction that local and family history research proceeds. As one seemingly contained area of exploration is completed, another series of questions and challenges emerge. To share the Taylors' research is a worthwhile experience in itself, and makes the book an attractive proposition as it gives the reader clues on how to proceed further in a challenging piece of family history.

Quite separately I would also recommend this book just for chapter 11, which is entitled ‘Church and Stage in the Victorian Era' because here the authors examine how the attitude of the Church towards the theatre and actors changed very significantly in the late 19^th Century.