1741 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1741. Events January 29 – A life-size memorial to William Shakespeare (d. 1616), designed by William Kent and sculpted by Peter Scheemakers, is erected in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. February 13 – Andrew Bradford launches the American colonies' first periodical in Philadelphia, the American Magazine. February 14 – Irish-born actor Charles Macklin makes his London stage debut as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, pioneering a psychologically realistic style with Shakespeare's text revived, replacing George Granville's melodramatic adaptation The Jew of Venice. March 14 – K. K. Theater an der Burg (Imperial Court Theatre) in Vienna opens. October 19 – David Garrick makes his London stage debut in the title role of Shakespeare's Richard III. His performance quickly packs theaters. His professional debut was earlier in the year at Ipswich, in Thomas Southerne's adaptation of Oroonoko. unknown date The first translation of a Shakespeare play into German, Julius Caesar, is made by C. W. von Bork, using alexandrines. Printer Robert Foulis sets up as a publisher in Edinburgh. New books Fiction Anonymous The Life of Pamela (parody of Richardson's Pamela) Pamela Censured Charles Balguy (anonymous translator) – The Decameron Comte de Caylus – Les Féeries nouvelles Stephen Duck – Every Man in his Own Way Henry Fielding (as Mr. Conny Keyber) – An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews Eliza Haywood – The Anti-Pamela; or Feign’d Innocence Detected Ludvig Holberg – Niels Klim's Underground Travels John Kelly – Pamela's Conduct in High Life (continuation of Pamela) Alexander Pope with John Gay and John Arbuthnot – Memoirs of the Extraordinary Life, Works, and Discoveries of Martinus Scriblerus Charles Povey – The Virgin in Eden (prose fiction) Samuel Richardson Letters Written to and for Particular Friends (also known as Familiar Letters) Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded vols. iii – iv Hristofor Zhefarovich – Stemmatographia