harmful to society, especially young women. Scott especially became embroiled in legal claims through his outspoken criticism of various actors and actresses. His scathing attacks on Ibsen and Shaw became evident in their lack of journalistic neutrality. Scott outraged the theatre community with an extraordinary attack on the morals of theatre people in general, and especially of actresses, in an interview that was published in the evangelical weekly Great Thoughts in 1898. He said that the theatre warps people's character and that it was impossible for a pure woman to be successful in a stage career, and that all leading actresses were immoral and could have achieved their success only by virtue of the extent of their "compliance". Even before the publication, the transcript of the interview was released to the press, and Scott immediately received a firestorm of condemnation. Although he apologised and recanted his remarks, he was barred from theatres, and The Daily Telegraph was forced to dismiss him. He soon retired and found his reputation and prospects much diminished. By the end of his life, however, he received a measure of forgiveness, and shortly before his death the theatre community held a generous benefit for him. His papers are located in the library of Rochester University, New York State. Filmmaker John Madden made his first film, for BBC Two television, Poppyland (1985), around the story of Scott's 1883 visit to Poppyland. Notes References Poppyland – Strands of Norfolk History, Stibbons and Cleveland, Pub: Poppyland Publishing, Fourth ed. 2001, Poppyland in Pictures, Elizabeth Jones, Pub: Poppyland Publishing, Second ed. 2004, The Drama of Yesterday and Today, Clement Scott, Pub: Macmillan, London, 1899, two volumes Ellen Terry, Clement Scott, Pub: Frederick A. Stokes, NY 1900 From The Bells to King Arthur, Clement Scott, Pub: John Macqueen, London, 1896 Some Notable Hamlets of the Present Time, Clement Scott, Illus: Will G. Mein, Pub: Greening & Co., London, 1900. External links Information about the Scott and Stephenson collaborations Sheet Music for "O Promise Me", G. Schirmer, Inc., 1889. British theatre critics British travel writers Converts to Roman Catholicism People associated with Gilbert and Sullivan 1841 births 1904 deaths