Aphra Behn

The Rover, or The Banish'd Cavaliers is the most popular play by the Restoration playwright and spy Aphra Behn, first performed in 1677. The play follows the wild exploits of a group of English gentlemen in Naples at carnival time, although many of the tropes of the genre are subverted to an extent which sent shockwaves through the theatre world.

This anthology of four plays written or performed between 1662 and 1677 offers a unique snapshot of the diverse nature of Restoration drama by women. Restoration Women’s Drama collects four Restoration plays by women: the highly acclaimed Katherine Philips, the successful professional Aphra Behn, the confidently original Margaret Cavendish, and the obscure pioneer Frances Boothby. This anthology includes Behn’s only tragedy as well as the first printed edition of Boothby’s Marcelia, the first play by a woman to be professionally staged in London, demonstrating the range of early modern drama produced by women in this period. An excellent introduction, it is poised to stimulate new discussions of women’s authorship, theatrical knowledge, and literary affinities. Each play has been edited afresh, and each has been modernized and annotated to facilitate reading, teaching, and performance possibilities.

Aphra Behn's career in the Restoration theatre extended over nearly two full decades, and encompassed a remarkable generic range and diversity. The plays in this volume, published and performed between 1676 and 1678, include comedies set in London and Naples (The Town-Fopp and Sir Patient Fancy; The Rover), and two anonymously published plays long associated with Behn's name (The Counterfeit Bridegroom and The Debauchee). Collectively, Behn's plays of this period exemplify her skills in writing for individual performers, and exhibit both the topical political engagement with and sophisticated response to Restoration libertinism for which she is renowned. They also bear witness to Behn's popularity with theatre audiences during the politically difficult years of the 1670s. The present edition draws on recent scholarship on Restoration literary, theatrical and political history, and is also informed by the most up-to-date research in the field of computational attribution.

Explore 17th-century English marriage customs and domestic life through A. Marsh's "The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and The Confession of the New-married Couple, 1682." This historical text offers a fascinating glimpse into the social expectations and realities surrounding marriage in England. Delve into the pleasures and challenges faced by newly married couples as revealed through the lens of their time. Offering insights into historical social customs and family dynamics, this work sheds light on the complexities of marriage as a social institution. This volume presents a unique perspective on the lives of couples navigating the intricacies of domestic life in 17th-century England. Discover how perceptions of marriage, family, and relationships have evolved through the ages. A valuable resource for those interested in the history of marriage and English social history.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.