The Dramatic Works of Wycherley, Congreve, Vanbrugh, and Farquhar, with Biographical and Critical Notes: A New Edition (The Old Dramatists)

lxxxiv, 668 pp. 8vo. Includes frontispiece of Wycherley (Sir P. Lely & H. Robinson credited underneath), and title page illustration of Clive Hall, the birth place of Wycherley (G. Howse & W. Finden credited underneath). CONTENTS: WYCHERLEY: Biographical and Critical Notices; Love in a Wood; or, St. James's Park; The Gentleman Dancing-Master; The Country Wife; The Plain Dealer; CONGREVE: Commendatory Verses; The Old Bachelor; The Double-Dealer; Love for Love; The Mourning Bride; The Way of the World; The Judgment of Paris; Semele; VANBRUGH: The Relapse; or, Virtue in Danger; The Provoked Wife; Aesop; _____ Part II.; The False Friend; The Confederacy; The Mistake; The Country House; A Journey to London; FARQUHAR: Love and a Bottle; The Constant Couple; or, A Trip to the Jubilee; Sir Harry Wildair; The Inconstant; or, The Way to Win Him; The Twin-Rivals; The Recruiting Officer; The Beaux-Stratagem. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: "James Henry Leigh Hunt (October 19, 1784 - August 28, 1859) was an English essayist and writer." "William Wycherley (c. 1640 - January 1, 1716) was an English dramatist of the Restoration period." "William Congreve (January 24, 1670 - January 19, 1729) was an English playwright and poet." He is famous for coining the phrases, 'Music hath charms to sooth a savage beast,' and, 'Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.' "Sir John Vanbrugh (pronounced "Van'-bru") (January 24, 1664? - March 26, 1726) was an English architect and dramatist, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restoration comedies, The Relapse (1696) and The Provoked Wife (1697), which have become enduring stage favourites but originally occasioned much controversy." "George Farquhar (1678 - April 29, 1707) was an Irish dramatist. Born in Derry, the son of a clergyman, he attended Trinity College, Dublin, but left without any qualifications, possibly to join a roving troupe of actors. His career was blossoming, when an accident on stage during a performance of The Indian Emperor by John Dryden, in which he wounded a fellow actor in a sword fight, caused him to quit the stage."