Richard Steele : Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. Aitken

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Steele, Richard, Sir, 1672-1729

Contributor:

Aitken, George Atherton, 1860-1917

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Other Title:

The complete plays of Richard Steele

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Complete Plays of Richard Steele" by Sir Richard Steele is a collection of comedies written in the early 18th century. This anthology highlights Steele's contributions to the English drama, showcasing his wit and humor similar to that found in his renowned periodical essays like the "Tatler" and "Spectator." The plays included tackle themes of love, society, and morality, featuring characters such as the earnest widower Lord Brumpton and the charming Lady Sharlot. The opening of the collection introduces Richard Steele's background and his journey as a playwright while elaborating on the theatrical landscape of his time. It reveals how Steele's early life, including a brief military career, informed his comedic writing and themes, culminating in stage productions like "The Funeral," which critiques societal attitudes towards mourning and showcases his satirical perspective on human behavior. The text provides an insightful overview of the historical context and highlights significant elements that resonate throughout his works. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Richard Steele

The funeral

The lying lover

The tender husband

The conscious lovers

The school of action (a fragment)

The gentleman (a fragment)

Appendix.

Credits:

Produced by Clare Graham and Marc D'Hooghe at Free Literature (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 78.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2017-11-09