Author: FARQUHAR (George):
Title: The Works Of the late Ingenious Mr. George Farquhar: Containing all his Letters, Poems, Essays, and Comedies Publish'd in his Life-time. The Comedies are Illustrated with Cuts representing the principal Scenes in each Play. The Second Edition.
Description: London: Printed for Bernard Lintot..., no date [1711]. 8vo, 197 x 117 mms., pp. [2] 3 - 79 [80 adverts], [xii], 69 [70 -71 Epilogue, 72 blank], [vi], 64 [65 - 66 Epilogue], 51 [52 Epilogue], [viii], 57 [58 Epilogue], [viii], 64 [65 Epilogue, 66 blank], [vi], 70 [71 - 72 Epilogue], [iv], 72 [73 Epilogue, 74 blank], 8 full-page engraved plates, with all the plays stating on title-page as presented at the Theatre-Royal Drury Land and printed in 1711, image of removed bookplate on verso of leaf facing title-page, later 18th century panelled calf, rebacked in lighter calf, paper label on spine; some nick and scratches on binding, but a good copy. The article in ONDB, concludes with this assessment of Farquhar's career: "With his last two plays, Farquhar finally got recognition appropriate to his achievements. His entire career had spanned a mere eight and a half years. Seven comedies, an afterpiece, a novella, a miscellany, a discourse on comedy, poems, songs, prologues, and epilogues, not to mention a military career, marriage, and parenthood were comprehended in that short span. As a playwright, measured by number of performances and editions throughout the century, he won incomparable popularity, and his plays continue to be performed and read three centuries later. He influenced comedy with believable characters, fallible and funny, humanly inconsistent, foolish and endearing. His extravagant rakes were impetuous but likeable; his women were full of spirit and intelligence. The characters became so familiar that they inevitably shaped other characters written for the same actors and deeply influenced eighteenth-century comedy. After his death critics finally admitted that he had a 'genius' for comedy, that he was, as Dr Samuel Johnson said, 'a man whose writings have considerable merit' (Boswell's Life of Johnson, ed. R. W. Chapman, 1953, 1070)." Maslen & Lancaster. Bowyer ledgers, 49.

Keywords: Drama theatre literature


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