Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy: Authoritative Texts of the Country Wife, the Man of Mode, the Rover, the Way of the World, the Conscious Lovers, the School for Scandal : Contexts, cr

by Scott McMillin (Editor )

The plays are fully annotated for the modern reader and are accompanied by six illustrations. The close relationship between theater and society during the period continues to be the focus of Contexts. The editor offers contemporary discussions of the following topics: On Wit, Humour, and Laughter: 1660 1775, The Collier Controversy: 1698, Steele and Dennis: On The Man of Mode and The Conscious Lovers, and Stages, Actors, and Audiences. Criticism has been revised to reflect approaches in scholarly interpretations. Two seminal essays from the First Edition have been retained Charles Lamb s appreciation of the period s comedy and L. C. Knights s condemnation of it. New essays by Jocelyn Powell, Harriet Hawkins, Elin Diamond, Martin Price, and Laura Brown have been added."

Genres: Plays, 18th Century, Classics, Drama, Reference, School, Fiction

628 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1973

Reviews

[kaelan · Rating 2 out of 5]

William Wycherley, The Country Wife: ***
George Etherege, The Man of Mode: **
Aphra Behn, The Rover: **
William Congreve, The Way of the World: **
Richard Steele, The Conscious Lovers: *
Richard Sheridan, The School for Scandal: ***

I must add that Whycherley's The Country Wife has one of the most hilarious plots I've ever come across.

[Jordyn Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but not my favorite.

[Ad Astra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book. I read it for my "18th Century Restoration Drama" class, sooo... the book was rather fitting as you can see. There's a couple of good essays and notes for historical context, and some of the slang and references are pointed out for additional help. I still had to look up what a 'cuckhold' was, and was gratified to hear literally the next day the term used on "The Office". Nice one Dwight. Anyway, my favorites would be "The Country Wife" and "The Conscious Lovers". "The Rover" is really good too, but there's an almost rape scene in there and things get pretty heavy.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful selection of Restoration drama completely annotated for contemporary readers. This book includes the following plays: The Country Wife, The Man of Mode, The Rover, The Way of the World, The Conscious Lovers, and The School for Scandal. If you have never read an example of these comedies of manners, you should.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite plays. But brilliant in their own, very specific, craftmanship.

[Deanna Shelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

quintessential

[G]

Read the first three plays - loved the first and third, completely bemused by second. V. interesting

[Gregory Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and sophisticated cuckoldry in the best circles, anyone?