List of Authored Works Attributed to Charles Gildon

This is a list of works authored by Charles Gildon. Works Gildon edited and dedications included in other works are not included.

Several works attributed to Gildon may not actually have been written by him. The list below indicates the likelihood of the attribution (high, medium, or low) and includes information about the arguments made for attributing each work to Gildon.

Click here to download this information in spreadsheet form, including English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) system and citation numbers.

Title Pub. Year Certainty of Attribution Attribution Notes
The history of the Athenian Society, for the resolving all nice and curious questions. By a gentleman, who got secret intelligence of their whole proceedings. To which are prefix’d several poems, written by Mr. Tate, Mr. Motteux, Mr. Richardson, and others. 1691 High
Poeta infamis: or, a poet not worth hanging. Being a dialogue, between Lysander Valentine, and Poet Pricket. With a letter to the author of the Marriage-hater matched, written by his friend. 1692 High Note from ESTC: "To the always disingenuous Tom Pricket" is signed Charles G---n. In it, Gildon disclaims the authorship of his letter prefixed to the first edition of D’Urfey’s "The marriage hater match’d".
A Letter to Mr. D'Urfey, Occasioned by his PLAY Called the Marriage-Hater Match'd 1692 Low Note from ESTC entry for Poeta Infamis: "To the always disingenuous Tom Pricket" is signed Charles G---n. In it, Gildon disclaims the authorship of his letter prefixed to the first edition of D’Urfey’s "The marriage hater match’d".
Nuncius infernalis: or, A new account from below. In two dialogues. The first from the Elizium Fields, of friendship. The second from hell of cuckoldom, being the sessions of cuckolds. By Charles Gildon, gent. With a preface by Mr. Durfey. 1692 High Hand-written on the edition included in EEBO is a note stating that the "Session of the Cuckolds" is by Tom Browne."
The post-boy rob’d of his mail: or, The pacquet broke open. Consisting of five hundred letters, to persons of several qualities and conditions. With observations upon each letter. Publish’d by a gentleman concern’d in the frolick. 1692 High
The second volume of the Post-boy robb’d of his mail: or, The pacquet broke-open. To which are added several ingenious letters lately sent to the gentlemen concern’d in this frollick· As also copies of those private letters which lately past between - With observations upon each letter. 1693 High
A Letter to Mr. D'Urfey, Occasioned by his PLAY Called the Marriage-Hater Match'd 1693 Low Note from ESTC entry for Poeta Infamis: "To the always disingenuous Tom Pricket" is signed Charles G---n. In it, Gildon disclaims the authorship of his letter prefixed to the first edition of D’Urfey’s "The marriage hater match’d".
The Roman brides revenge. A tragedy; as it is acted at the Theatre-Royal, by His Majesty’s servants. 1697 High
Phaeton: or, The fatal divorce. A tragedy· As it is acted at the Theatre Royal in imitation of the antients. With some reflections on a book call’d, A short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage. 1698 High
A Letter to Mr. Congreve 1698 Low ESTC states this is anonymous, but by Gildon. Cites the Bodleian library record, April 1999 p. 405-6.
The songs in Phaeton: or, the fatal divorce. Sett to musick by Mr. Daniel Purcell. With an addition of some songs in the last new play. 1698 Med
Measure for measure, or Beauty the best advocate. As it is acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. VVritten originally by Mr. Shakespear: and now very much alter’d; vvith additions of several entertainments of musick. 1700 Med ESTC cites Henrietta Bartlett's Mr. Shakespeare p. 182. Cibber in Lives of the Poets (1753) notes Coxeter attributes this to Gildon.
Love’s victim: or, the Queen of Wales. A Tragedy. As it was Acted at The Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. By His Majesty’s servants. 1701 High
A comparison between the two stages, with an examen of The generous conqueror; and some critical remarks on The funeral, or Grief alamode, The false friend, Tamerlane and others. In dialogue. 1702 Low Attribution questionable: ESTC note says "Sometimes attributed to Charles Gildon." Staring Wells contends in his critical edition of the piece that Gildon is not the author.
The patriot, or the Italian Conspiracy, a tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. 1703 High While Gildon is not named as author on the title page, this is hand written on the ECCO edition and ESTC attribues this to him.
The stage-Beaux toss’d in a blanket: or, hypocrisie alamode; expos’d in a true picture of Jerry ----- a pretending scourge to the English stage. A comedy. With a prologue on occasional conformity; being a full Explanation of the Poussin Doctor’s Book; and an Epilogue on the Reformers. Spoken at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. 1704 Med ESTC attributes to Thomas Brown; Macintosh asserts it is by Gildon. Boyce in Tom Brown dismisses the attribution to Brown (176 n.15) and cites W.C. Hazlitt Bibliographical Collections and Notes, ser.3 sup. 2, 1892, p.35B in attributing it to Gildon.
The deist’s manual: or, a rational enquiry into the Christian religion 1705 High
The deist’s manual: or, a rational enquiry into the Christian religion. With some Considerations on Mr. Hobbs, Spinosa, the Oracles of Reason, Second Thoughts, &c. By C. Gildon, Gent. Publisher of the Oracles of Reason. To which is prefix’d A letter, from the author of The method with the deists. 1705 High
The post-Boy robb’d of his mail: or, The Pacquet Broke Open. Consisting of letters of love and gallantry, and all miscellaneous subjects: In which are Discover’d The Vertues, Vices, Follies, Humours and Intrigues of Mankind. With Remarks on Each letter. Both volumes in one. 1706 High
A review of Her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia’s letter to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and that of Sir Rowland Gwynne to the Right Honourable the Earl of Stamford: or, a Jacobite plot against the protestant succession discover’d: Occasion’d by a Scurrilous and Factious Lib 1, lately Printed against the most Serene House of Hannover. With invincible Reasons for an humble Adress to her most Sacred Majesty to invite over the Presumprive Heir of the Crown, by that Means infallibly to secure the Protestant Succession, and in that our Laws, Religion and Constitution against the Power and Intrigues of the French King, in conjunction with he Jacobites, and others of this Nation. 1706 High
A review of Her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia’s letter to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and that of Sir Rowland Gwynne to the Right Honourable the Earl of Stamford: Or, A jacobite plot against the Protestant succession discover’d: Occasion’d by a scurrilous and factious libel, lately printed against the most serene House of Hannover. With invincible reasons for an humble adress to Her Most Sacred Majesty to invite over the presumptive heir of the crown, by that means infallibly to secure the Protestant succession, and in that our laws, religion and constitution against the power and intrigues of the French King, in conjunction with the jacobites, and others of this nation. 1706 High
Threnodia virginea: or the apotheosis. A poem, occasion’d by the much lamented death of Mrs Hester Buckworth, only daughter of Sir John Buckworth, kt. and bar. 1708 Med ESTC states that this is attributed to Gildon by "Morgan to Charles Gildon (Foxon note T261O). Foxon's note: "Dedication signed 'C.G.' Attributed by Morgan *K179a to Charles Gildon. Te attribution is plausible, but apparently only rests on the initials.
The new metamorphosis; or, the pleasant transformation: being The golden ass of Lucius Apuleius of Madaura. Alter’d and improv’d to the modern times and manners; ... Written in Italian by Carlo Monte Socio, ... Vol. II. 1708 High
Threnodia virginea: or the apotheosis. A poem, occasion’d by the much lamented death of Mrs Hester Buckworth, only daughter of Sir John Buckworth, kt. and bar. 1708 Med ESTC states that this is attributed to Gildon by "Morgan to Charles Gildon (Foxon note T261O). Foxon's note: "Dedication signed 'C.G.' Attributed by Morgan *K179a to Charles Gildon. Te attribution is plausible, but apparently only rests on the initials.
Libertas triumphans: a poem, occasion’d by the glorious victory obtain’d near Odenard, by the forces of the allies under the command of His Highness John Duke of Marlborough, and Prince of the Sacred Roman Empire, and the Velt-Mareschal Auverquerque: on the first of July, 1708. 1708 High
The new metamorphosis; or, The pleasant transformation: being the golden ass of Lucius Apuleius of Medaura. Alter’d and improv’d to the modern times and manners; exposing the secret follies and vices of maids, wives, and widows, nuns, fryars, Jesuits: statesmen, courtiers, &c. Written in Italian by Carlo Monte Socio, Fellow of the Academy of the Humoristi in Rome, and translated from the Vatican manuscript. 1708 High
The new metamorphosis: or, the pleasant transformation: being The golden ass of Lucius Apuleius of Medaura. Alter’d and improv’d to the modern times and manners ; exposing the Secret Follies and Vices of Maids Wives, and Widows, Nuns Fryars Jesuits: Statesmen, Courtiers, &c. Written in Italian by Carlo Monte Socio, Fellow of the Academy of the Humoristi in Rome, and Translated from the Vatican Manuscript. Adorn’d with cuts: in two vollumes. 1709 High
The golden spy: or, a political journal of the British nights entertainments of war and peace, and love and politics: wherein are laid open, the secret miraculous power and progress of gold, in the courts of Europe. Intermix’d with Delightful Intrigues, Memoirs, Tales, and Adventures, Serious and Comical. 1709 High
The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian. Wherein the action and utterance of the stage, bar, and pulpit, are distinctly consider’d. With The Judgment of the late Ingenious Monsieur de St. Evremond, upon the Italian and French Music and Opera’s; in a Letter to the Duke of Buckingham. To which is added, The amorous widow, or the Wanton Wife. A Comedy. written by Mr. Betterton. Now first printed from the Original Copy. 1710 High
The golden spy: or, a political journal of the British nights entertainments. Viz. The power and progress of gold. The ladys taste. The Mercenary Gallant. The Male and Female Favourites. The Story of Donna Olympa. Monsieur Icquet’s Amours. The Fatal Rape. The English Female Favourite. Matilda and Golofre. The English Male Favourites. The unlucky Cast. The fair Extravagant. The four Extravagant. Of Love Intrigues. The Fortunate Adultery. Of Julio and Sempronia. The Whores Revenge. The Political Whores. The Lucky Escape. The Country Jilt. The force of Love. The kept Miss. The Cully’s Fate. The Godly Reformers. The Reforming Constable. The Hypocrite uncas’d. The Godly Debauchee. The Reformer Reform’d. The Trade of the Camp. Wherein are laid open the secret miraculous power and progress of gold, in the courts of Europe. Also Delightful Intrigues, Memoirs, Tales, and Adventures, Serious and Comical. 1710 High
The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian. Wherein the action and utterance of the stage, bar, and pulpit, are distinctly consider’d. With the judgment of the Late ingenious Monsieur De St. Evremond, upon the Italian and French music and opera’s; in a letter to the Duke of Buckingbam. To which is added, the amorous widow, or the wanton wise. A comedy. Written by Mr. Betterton. Now first printed from the original copy. 1710 High
The works of Lucian, translated from the Greek, by several eminent hands. The first volume. With the life of Lucian, a discourse on his writings, and a character of some of the present translators. Written by John Dryden, Esq; 1711 Low Dottin, Cederstrom, and Macintosh attribute to Gildon. Edited with a life of Lucian by Dryden, and the translations of Lucian's works were done by several hands, though not Gildon. Charles Blount was one of them, and perhaps this is significant.
A grammar of the English tongue, with notes, giving the grounds and reason of grammar in general. To which is added, a new prosodia; or, the art of English numbers. All adapted to the use of gentlemen and ladies, as well as of the schools of Great Britain. 1711 Low ESTC states: "Variously attributed to John Brightland, Sir Richard Steele, and Charles Gildon." Theophilus Cibber in The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain cites Boyer's Political State xxvii, p. 102 as stateing Gildon was author of a grammar.
Les soupirs de la Grand Britaigne: or, the groans of Great Britain, being the second part to The groans of Europe. 1713 Low The ESTC says: "Anonymous. By Charles Gildon; formerly attributed to Daniel Defoe." It does make refernce eto the "Reformation of Manners," a topic in The Golden Spy.
A new rehearsal, or Bays the Younger. Containing an examen of The ambitious step-mother. Tamerlane, The biter, Fair Penitent, Royal Convert, Ulysses, And Jane Shore. All written by N. Rowe Esq;. Also a word or two upon Mr. Pope’s Rape of the lock. To which is prefix’d, a preface in vindication of criticism in General, by the lat Earl of Shaftsbury. 1714 High
Trojan tales, related by Ulysses, Helenus, Hector, Achilles, and Priam. 1714 Low Attributed to Gildon by Macintosh.
Remarks on Mr. Rowe’s Tragedy of the Lady Jane Gray, and All his other Plays. viz. The Ambitious Step-Mother, Tamerlane, The Biter, The Fair Penitent, The Royal Convert, Ulysses, Jane Shore. With some Observations upon, I. Mr. Smith’s Phaedra and Hippolytus. II. Mr. Philips’s Distress’d Mother. III. Mr. Addison’s Cato. IV. Mr. Pope’s Rape of the Lock, &c. To which is prefix’d, A Prefatory Discourse in Defence of Criticism in general. Collected from the Works of the late Earl of Shaftsbury. 1715 High
The new rehearsal or, Bays the Younger. Being remarks upon all Mr. Rowe’s plays. Viz. The Ambitious Step-Mother, Tamerlane, The Biter, The Fair Penitent, The Royal Convert, Ulysses, Jane Shore. With some Observations upon, I. Mr. Smith’s Phaedra and Hippolytus. II. Mr. Philips’s Distrest-Mother. III. Mr. Addison’s Cato. IV. Mr. Pope’s Rape of the Lock, &c. Also, a defense of criticism in general, by the late Earl of Shaftesbury. 1715 High
A true character of Mr. Pope, and his writings. In a letter to a friend. 1716 Low W.L. MacDonald Pope and His Critics (106-7) & Arthur Case, "Pope, Addison" Modern Philology 33.2 1935: Pope blamed Gildon and Dennis. Dennis published a statement and two letters purportedly from Gildon in Remarks upon … the Dunciad (1729) denying this.
Canons: or, The vision. A poem address’d to the Right Honourable Earl of Caernarvan, &c. 1717 Med ESTC cites Foxon G151. His note: "Ascribed to Gildon by Cibber III. 329." See Cibber Lives of the Poets 1753.
A true character of Mr. Pope 1717 Low W.L. MacDonald Pope and His Critics (106-7) & Arthur Case, "Pope, Addison" Modern Philology 33.2 1935: Pope blamed Gildon and Dennis. Dennis published a statement and two letters purportedly from Gildon in Remarks upon … the Dunciad (1729) denying this.
Memoirs of the life of William Wycherley, Esq ; With a character of his writings. By the Right Honourable George, Lord Lansdowne. To which are added, some familiar letters, written by Mr. Wycherley, and a true copy of his last will and testament. 1718 High
The apparition: a poem. Address’d to the Right Honourable James Earl of Caernarvan, &c. 1718 Med Foxon G152 notes it was advertised in the Post Boy as 'By Mr. G-----'.
The complete art of poetry. In six parts 1718 High
The life and strange surprizing adventures of Mr. D---- de F--, of London, hosier, who has liv’d above fifty years by himself, in the Kingdoms of North and South-Britain. The various shapes he has appear’d in, and the discoveries he has made for the benefit of his country. In a dialogue between him, Robinson Crusoe, and his Man Friday. With remarks serious and comical upon the life of Crusoe. 1719 High
The life and strange surprizing adventures of Mr. D---- de F--, of London, hosier, who has liv’d above fifty years by himself, in the Kingdoms of North and South Britain. The various Shapes he has appear’d in, and the Discoveries he has made for the Benefit of his Country. In A Dialogue between Him, Robinson Crusoe, and his Man Friday. With Remarks Serious and Comical upon the Life of Crusoe. Qui vult decipi, decipiatur. 1719 High
The life and strange surprizing adventures of Mr. D---- de F--, of London, hosier, who has liv’d above fifty years by himself, in the Kingdoms of North and South Britain. The various Shapes he has appear’d in, and the Discoveries he has made for the Benefit of his Country. In A Dialogue between Him, Robinson Crusoe, and his Man Friday. With Remarks Serious and Comical upon the Life of Crusoe. 1719 High
The post-Man robb’d of his mail: or, the packet broke open. Being a collection of miscellaneous letters, serious and comical, amorous and gallant. Amongst which are, The lover’s sighs: or, the amours of the beautiful Stremunia and Alphonso the Wise, King of Castile, and Aragon, and Earl of Provence; with her Passionate Letters to the King on his chusing another Mistress. In five books. By the best wits of the present age. 1719 High
"The fortunate shipwreck, or a description of New Athens, being an account of the laws, manners, religion, and customs of that country; by Morris Williams, Gent. who resided there above twenty years." in Miscellanea aurea: or the Golden Medly 1720 Med Gove's Imaginary Voyages (p234) "The Fortunate Shipwreck" attributes to Gildon. Other works in Miscellanea aurea are attributed to Thomas Killigrew. Cairns argues Gildon authored in his of Measure for Measure critical edition.
All for the better; or, the world turn’d up-side down. Being the history of the head-longs and the long-heads, with several characters of both, in the following six novels, viz. I. The fruitless scandal. II. The dutiful son. ... VI. The fantastic ambition. ... with ... a candid examination, ... of the South-Sea Company; ... To which is added, ... The woolfe strip’d of his sheeps clothing; ... by an annonimous [sic] member of Parliament. 1720 Low ESTC states this attribution is from Hanson, 2762; dedication signed "Philopatris"
The battle of the authors lately fought in Covent-Garden, between Sir John Edgar, generalissimo on one side, and Horatius Truewit, on the other. With a List of the general Officers, and some of their Characters: Also an Account of Sir John Edgar’s being taken Prisoner; with his Tryal and Condemnation, being Sentenc’d to have his Eyes pick’d out with a Balad-Maker’s Pen, &c. The whole being Occasion’d by the late Revolutions of the Theatre in Drury-Lane. Dedicated to Count Hecre, Masquerade Master General of Great-Britain. 1720 Med Attributed to Gildon in Moore's article "Gildon's Attack on Steele and Defoe in The Battle of the Authors" in PMLA Vol. 66, No. 4 (Jun., 1951), pp. 534-538
A New Project for the Regulations of the Stage 1720 Low Reviewer of Bateson's Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (1940) Review of English Studies 17.68 1941 (490-494), there is reason to suspect that this was only ever listed in the Daily Post, Feb 5. 1720 and never printed. A "skit," not real.
The life and strange surprizing adventures of Mr. D----- de F----, of London, hosier, who has liv’d fifty years by himself, in the kingdoms of north and south Britain. The various shapes he has appear’d in, and the discoveries he has made for the benefit of his country. In a dialogue between him, Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday. With remarks serious and comical upon the life of Crusoe. … 1720 High
The complete art of poetry. In six parts 1724 High
The life and strange surprizing adventures of Daniel De Foe, formerly of London, hosier, who has lived above fifty years all alone by himself, in the kingdoms of North and South Britain. . 1724 High
The new metamorphosis: or, pleasant transformation of the Golden ass of Lucius Apuleius of Medaura. Also the golden spy: ... In twenty-five novels. ... Written in Italian by Carlo Monte Socio, ... In two volumes. Adorn’d with new cuts. 1724 High
Remarks upon several passages in the preliminaries to the Dunciad, both of the quarto and the duodecimo edition. And upon several passages in Pope’s preface to his translation of Homer’s Iliad. In both which is shewn, the author’s want of judgment. With original letters from Sir Richard Steele, from the late Mr. Gildon, from Mr. Jacob, and from Mr. Pope himself, Which shew the falshood of the latter, his envy, and his malice. By Mr. Dennis. 1729 Low Macintosh attributes, at least in part, to Gildon. Gildon was dead by 1729, and the ESTC credits entirely to John Dennis
An Epistle to A Certain Dean, Written Originally in Italian, by Carlo Monte Socio, Fellow of the Academy of the Humoristi in Rome, and Translated ... By A Student in Philosophy 1730 Low BPL attributes to Gildon, but published six years after his death, in Dublin. Supposedly written by Carlo Monte Socio, who Gildon claims was the author of The New Metamorphosis-this may explain the attribution.
The new metamorphosis; or, The pleasant transformation: being the golden ass of Lucius Apuleius of Medaura. In two volumes. Altered and improved to the modern times and manners; exposing the secret follies and vices of maids, wives and widows, nuns, fryars, Jesuits, statesmen, courtiers, &c. Written in Italian by Carlo Monte Socio, Fellow of the Academy of the Humoristi in Rome, and translated from the Vatican manuscript. ... 1794 High