"The Dramatic Works of Wycherley, Congreve, Vanbruch and Farquhar. With Biographical and Critical Notices", by Leigh Hunt, published by George Routledge, London (undated, "Dedication by the publisher" is dated 1840). Ex-libris [private book plate] is a noble heraldic emblem of Carter-Stuarts (attached over another ex-libris), frontispiece engraving of William Wycherley is by Sir P. Lely, engraved by H. Robinson, the picture "Clive Hall Birth Place of Wycherley" on the first engraved title page by G. Howse, engraved by W. Finden.

CONTENTS:

Biographical and Critical Notes by Leigh Hunt (84 pages)
WILLIAM WYCHERLEY'S DRAMAS:
LOVE IN A WOOD; OR ST. JAMES'S PARK. THE GENTLEMAN DANCING-MASTER. THE COUNTRY WIFE. THE PLAIN DEALER.
William Congreve:

THE OLD BACHELOR (comedy). THE DOUBLE-DEALER (comedy). LOVE FOR LOVE (a comedy). THE MOURNING BRIDE (tragedy). THE WAY OF THE WORLD (comedy). THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS. SEMELE (an opera).

Dramatic Works of Sir John Vanbrugh:

THE RELAPSE; OR, VIRTUE IN DANGER (a comedy). THE PROVOKED WIFE (comedy). AESOP (a comedy). THE FALSE FRIEND (comedy). THE CONFEDERACY (comedy). THE MISTAKE (comedy). THE COUNTRY HOUSE (a farce). A JOURNEY TO LONDON (unfinished comedy).

George Farquhar:

LOVE AND A BOTTLE (comedy). THE CONSTANT COUPLE. OR, A TRIP TO THE JUBILEE (comedy). SIR HARRY WILDAIR (comedy). THE INCONSTANT; OR THE WAY TO WIN HIM (comedy). THE TWIN-RIVALS (a comedy). THE RECRUITING OFFICER (comedy). THE BEAUX-STRATAGEM (comedy).

The Country Wife is a Restoration comedy written in 1675 by William Wycherley. A product of the tolerant early Restoration period, the play reflects an aristocratic and anti-Puritan ideology... It is based on several plays by Moliere, with added features that 1670s London audiences demanded: colloquial prose dialogue in place of Moliere's verse, a complicated, fast-paced plot tangle, and many sex jokes. It turns on two indelicate plot devices: a rake's trick of pretending impotence in order to safely have clandestine affairs with married women, and the arrival in London of an inexperienced young "country wife", with her discovery of the joys of town life, especially the fascinating London men.

Sir John Vanbrugh (January 24, 1664? - March 26, 1726) was an English architect and dramatist, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restoration comedies, "The Relapse" (1696) and "The Provoked Wife" (1697), which have become enduring stage favourites but originally occasioned much controversy.
In his architectural career, he created what came to be known as English baroque. His architectural work was as bold and daring as his early political activism and marriage-themed plays, and jarred conservative opinions on the subject..

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Hard boards, cloth, gold stamped spine (a little soiling and wear; creased between front cover & fep); 6.1/2" x 9.3/4", 84 + 668 pages, a little soiling and aging, The book is in very good condition.