The Dramatic Works of Wycherley, Congreve, Vanburgh and Farquhar

This volume represents a quintessential nineteenth-century collection of Restoration comedies, bringing together the most prominent playwrights of the late seventeenth century. These works were essential to the development of the 'comedy of manners' genre, characterized by biting wit, complex intrigues, and a satirical lens on the social mores of the post-Restoration aristocratic class. Such anthologies were frequently produced during the Victorian era to preserve these racy and influential scripts for a burgeoning reading public interested in English literary history.

The editorial tradition for these specific authors often aimed to present the plays in a single, accessible volume, typically accompanied by biographical and critical notices. By grouping Wycherley, Congreve, Vanbrugh, and Farquhar together, publishers underscored their shared thematic focus on the cynicism and sexual politics of London society. While the original plays often sparked controversy during their own time due to their perceived licentiousness, nineteenth-century compilations served to solidify the authors' reputations as foundational figures in the comedic canon.