William Wycherley

'Mr Wycherley is universally allowed the first place among the English comic poets who have writ since Ben Jonson. His Plain-Dealer is the best comedy that ever was composed in any language.' Yet in spite of the extreme praise many of his contemporaries accorded to his work, William Wycherley (1641-1715) is now only remembered for one play, The Country Wife. Even though The Country Wife is frequently performed by both amateur and professional companies (including a production at the National Theatre in 1977), Wycherley's three other plays, Love in a Wood, The Gentleman Dancing-Master and The Plain-Dealer, are rarely read and even more rarely performed. But Wycherley's satire is as sharp now as ever and his revelation of the follies and crimes of his society is still both wickedly funny and savagely perceptive.

, 78 p. ; 21 cm. An alteration by Garrick of The country wife. This item is from the Stockton Axson Collection of 18th Century British Drama, Woodson Research Center, Rice University.

Presents authoritative texts of six Restoration and 18th century English comedies, accompanied by historical background and critical essays from past and present.

2 l., 71, p. ; 22 cm. This item is from the Stockton Axson Collection of 18th Century British Drama, Woodson Research Center, Rice University.

This item is from the Stockton Axson Collection of 18th Century British Drama, Woodson Research Center, Rice University.