Sir Charles Sedley's the Mulberry-Garden (1668): And, Bellamira, Or, the Mistress (1687): An Old-Spelling Critical Edition with an Introduction and Commentary

by Charles Sedley

In his own time, the court wit Sir Charles Sedley (1639-1701) was praised for his poetic skill rather than for his dramatic talent. Yet, as this old-spelling critical edition of his two comedies shows, Sedley was also a satirist whose plays are worth reading along with the ones of his more celebrated fellow-artists Etherege, Wycherley, and Shadwell. After a biographical introduction, a detailed analysis of the plays and characters concentrates on Sedley’s satiric strategies which lambaste the marriage of convenience as well as the conduct of a hypocritical and materialistic society.

314 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2001

About the author

born March 1639

Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Baronet was an English wit, dramatist, politician, poet and translator, ending his career as Speaker of the House of Commons.