ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how Cooke's and Kean's reception in Britain and America mimic the themes in Gothic literature. Specifically, it explains the 'ghostly' presence of British national identity in early nineteenth-century America. In scrutinizing Cooke and Kean's parallel trajectories, the author can begin to understand how their ghostly relationship emblematized larger nationalist narratives. The ghost of Cooke's previous behavior and relationship to the public also haunted the way Kean was received by the press and the public. The British public's reaction to Kean was largely based on their previous history with Cooke, which turned relatively innocuous incidents like his carriage 'accident' into a media circus. The chapter recounts relevant examples from Cooke's and Kean's biographies; chronicle their transatlantic journeys. Finally, it demonstrates how their relationship functions as a microcosm for the discussions surrounding transatlantic national identity in the nineteenth century. Cooke's 'worth', his reputation, is based on his transatlantic success, rather than reputation in either Britain or America.
