This edition brings together four eighteenth-century comedies that illustrate the full variety of the social and cultural mores of the time. Fielding's
The Modern Husband
, written before the 1737 Licensing Act that restricted political and social comment, depicts wife-pandering and widespread social corruption. In Garrick and Colman's
The Clandestine Marriage
two lovers marry in defiance of parental wishes and rue the consequences.
She Stoops to Conquer
explores the comic and not-so-comic consequences of mistaken identity, and in
Wild Oats
, the strolling player Rover is a beacon of hope at a time of unrest.
Part of the Oxford English Drama series, this edition has modern-spelling texts, critical introduction, wide-ranging annotation, and an informative bibliography.
About the Series:
For over 100 years
Oxford World's Classics
has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.