Four English Comedies

by J.M. Morrell (Editor), Ben Jonson, William Congreve

The aim of this volume is to offer a selection of long-established and well-loved classics which provide examples of the wide range and quality of English comedy in the 17th and 18th centuries. From the height of 17th century drama comes Ben Jonson's "Volpone", a biting satire on human cupidity; while the urbane social comedy of the restoration is represented by Congreve's "The Way of the World", where manners and attitudes provide the comedy and style and elegance adorn the language. Finally, from the glittering age of the 18th century come plays from Sheridan and Goldsmith, the two rumbustious comedies, "The School For Scandal" and "She Stoops to Conquer".

Genres: Drama, Classics, Plays, Comedy, Fiction, Read For School

414 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Sara]

I read the first one, unfortunately not for me.

[russell barnes]

There's 4 different plays in this collection, by different playwrights and written over 60 years so difficult to review in a cohesive way. What I will say is that two things stood out for me:

1. Volpone isn't as hilar as I pretended it was at university - which probably also reveals a little of what an obnoxious little student twat I was
2. The Way of the World was better than I remembered, but only just.
3. She Stoops to Conquer and The School for Scandal are utterly brilliant, but I wonder whether that's because they're just simply brill or the fact the language is less stilted and easier to understand. Actually, do they indicate language developed or simply language in plays. Surely people didn't actually speak like they do in Volpone compared to the more naturalistic conversations of ...Scandal.

Possibly more than 2 things stood out then.

[Theresa]

Four English Comedies: Jonson - Volpone; Congreve - The Way of the World; Goldsmith - She Stoops to Conquer; Sheridan - The School for Scandal
by J.M. Morrell (Editor), Ben Jonson, William Congreve, Oliver Goldsmith, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Various
four plays read in high school

[Rachel]

Just Valpone

[József]

Just The School for Scandal

[Alaa Allah Ahmed]

I have the exact book with 4 comedies... I'm studying 2 of the comedies this semester 2011

[" مطَّلِع "]

مسلٍّ ومضحك بعض الشيء .