Written in defiance of Jeremy Collier and the budding fashion for sentimental drama, this late Restoration comedy exposes the reformed rake Loveless to the temptations of London and the charms of a merry widow, neither of which he is able to withstand. More memorable than the straying husband, however, is Restoration comedy's ultimate follower of fashion, Lord Foppington, who defends himself in the Epilogue by observing that no highwayman or Jacobite was ever well dressed. As the introduction to this edition argues, Sir John Vanbrugh - dramatist, architect and member of the influential Kit Cat Club - presents courtship and marriage not only with cynicism, but also with moral bravery and social impudence; qualities not much in evidence in his sentimental rivals.

Play script, including biographical notes, textual details and information about the staging of the play.

About the Author
New Mermaids are modern-spelling, fully-annotated editions of important English plays. Each volume includes a critical introduction, biography of the author, discussions of dates and sources, textual details, a bibliography and information about the staging of the play.


Book Information
ISBN 9780713628876
Author Sir John Vanbrugh
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Methuen Drama
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 185g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 124mm * 10mm