Dion Boucicault was a witty, selfish and deceitful charmer, a bigamist, a profligate spendthrift and the author of dozens of successful plays, only a handful of which endure. Among these his early comedies influenced Oscar Wilde, and his Irish melodramas Shaw, Synge, and O'Casey. London Assurance was his first success, a'modern comedy' which opened at Covent Garden in 1841 and was the hit of the season. This is the first fully-annotated edition of the play, and it includes an outline of the author's amazing career, an account of the play's composition, and a critical introduction. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.