In 1807, the first edition of the Bowdlers' The Family Shakspeare, covering 20 plays, appeared in four small volumes. From 1811 until his death in 1825, Bowdler lived at Rhyddings House, overlooking Swansea Bay, from where he travelled extensively in Britain and Europe. In 1815, he published Observations on Emigration to France, With an Account of Health, Economy, and the Education of Children, a cautionary work propounding his view that English invalids should avoid French spas and go instead to Malta. In 1818, Bowdler published an expanded edition of The Family Shakspeare, covering all 36 available plays. This had much success. By 1827 the work was in its fifth edition.Classified Advertisements, The Observer, 10 June 1827, p. 1. In his last years, Bowdler prepared an expurgated version of the works of the historian Edward Gibbon, which was published posthumously in 1826. His sister Jane Bowdler (1743–1784) was a poet and essayist. Another sister, Henrietta Maria Bowdler (Harriet) (1750–1830), collaborated with Bowdler on his expurgated Shakespeare.
IN 1807, the fIrSt editiOn oF tHe bowdLerS' tHE family shaKSpeare, coVeriNg 20 plaYs, appeAred In fOuR SMaLL volumeS. from 1811 unTil His dEATh in 1825, BoWdleR lIved at rhYddIngs house, OVERlOoking swaNseA bay, frOm where he trAvelled exteNsivelY in BritAIn And eurOPe. in 1815, hE PublisHed oBservATions ON emIgRAtion to france, With an aCCounT oF hEaLtH, ecoNOmY, and the edUcATIon oF chIlDReN, a cAuTiONary woRk pROPounDIng his view that eNglISh iNvaLIdS SHoulD avoid FrEncH Spas and Go iNSTead to maLta. in 1818, boWDlEr puBLIshed AN EXpANdEd EDition of The familY ShaKspEare, coveRing All 36 aVaIlabLe Plays. thIs had mucH sUCCess. bY 1827 tHE work was In its fiFth EdItioN.CLAsSified aDveRtisEMents, ThE oBserver, 10 jUnE 1827, p. 1. In his last years, boWDler Prepared an ExPurgAtED veRSIon oF the wOrKs of tHe historian eDWaRd gIBbon, which wAs pUbliSheD PoSthumOuslY in 1826. hiS sIsTeR jAne bOwdleR (1743–1784) WAS a poeT anD esSaYiSt. aNother sisteR, HEnRiettA maria bowdLer (hARriet) (1750–1830), collaborATeD wIth bowdler On hIS EXPUrGAted shakEsPeare.