William Wycherley était un dramaturge anglais de la période de la Restauration, réputé pour ses pièces débordantes d'esprit vif et de commentaire social. Ses œuvres capturent avec vivacité le milieu de l'époque, présentant des personnages souvent animés par le cynisme et la recherche de richesse et de plaisir. Le style de Wycherley se caractérise par des dialogues rapides et des rebondissements inattendus, reflétant son mépris pour l'hypocrisie et l'artifice social. Ses pièces sont célébrées pour leur intelligence et leurs représentations audacieuses de la nature humaine.
The book is a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, preserving its original content despite potential imperfections like marks and flawed pages. It aims to highlight the cultural significance of the text, reflecting a commitment to protect and promote literature through high-quality, affordable editions that remain true to the original.
The life of William Wycherley unfolds against a backdrop of dramatic personal and professional events. Educated in France and initially drawn to law, he shifted focus to theatre, gaining fame with his daring play "Love in a Wood." His later works, particularly "The Country Wife" and "The Plain Dealer," solidified his reputation. A secret marriage to the wealthy Countess of Drogheda led to royal disfavor and imprisonment due to debts. Despite a brief pension from James II, financial struggles persisted until his death in 1716, marking a tumultuous yet impactful literary career.
When England's theaters reopened in 1660, 18 years after being closed by an act of Parliament, audiences embraced the witty and satirical dialogue spoken by "plain folks" characters—it was a new era in drama. The four comedy classics featured in this one convenient collection are typical of the works popularized during one of the most exciting and innovative periods in English theater.Brimming with bawdy and satirical comedies and rampant with notorious womanizers, amorous adventure, and marital discord are works by William Wycherley ( The Country Wife ), Sir George Etherege ( The Man of Mode ), Aphra Behn ( The Rover ), and Sir John Vanbrugh ( The Relapse ).
William Wycherley's comedies are admired for their satirical wit, farcical
humour, and social criticism. This volume offers his complete dramatic works
in a modern-spelling edition, with detailed annotation and a scholarly
introduction. Includes: Love in a Wood; The Gentleman Dancing-Master; The
Country Wife; The Plain Dealer
The three plays collected here mirror the era after King Charles II. In
Etherege's The Man of Mode, Dorimant meets his match. In Wycherley's The
Country Wife, Horner fakes impotence to fool husbands into giving him access
to their wives. In Congreve's Love for Love, the Valentine can win his beloved
only if he loses his inheritance.
A notorious rake feins impotence to trick his way into the intimate company of married ladies in this comic masterpiece, which offers an enduring combination of cynicism, satire, and farce.
The narrative features a young gentleman skilled in the art of flattery, who has been dismissed from his position for his insincere compliments. His charm, once a tool to win favor with a lady, ultimately leads to his downfall when the same tactics are employed on the housekeeper for treats. This exploration of social dynamics highlights themes of deception and the consequences of insincerity in relationships. The character's journey serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of using charm without genuine intent.
Arguably the most perfectly poised of Restoration wit comedies, The Man of Mode is a finished exercise in dramatic sprezzatura, or nonchalance, matching the beguiling 'easiness' and 'complaisance' of its central character. The play's imaginative brilliance depends upon its author's ability to hint at the dark abyss of passion and emotional violence at whose edge the modish denizens of the town perform their graceful ballet. Its seemingly casual construction and wanton breaches of comic decorum mask a ferocious artistic control designed to upset the complacency of the audience's moral, social and aesthetic assumptions by luring them into sympathy for a character whose dangerous 'wildness' they ought to deplore. It is at once among the funniest and the most unsettling of comedies in English. The full, modernized play text is accompanied by incisive commentary notes, while its engaging introduction unpacks the complexity of the Restoration's political and theatrical context, analyses the play's performance history (including Nicholas Hytner's 2007 modern-dress version) and demonstrates Etherege's linguistic finesse. This edition is supplemented by a plot summary and an annotated bibliography. $c --From publisher's description
A classic and controversial Restoration comedy, "The Plain-Dealer" tells the story of a man who seeks revenge on a woman who has caused him great harm. Filled with wit and satire, this play is a must-read for anyone interested in 17th century drama.
