Restoration Plays

If ever there was a period that proved civilisation could collapse, recover, and immediately become slightly indecent about it, it was the Restoration.

Restoration Plays by Robert G. Lawrence gathers together the theatrical output of late 17th-century England, when the monarchy returned, the theatres reopened, and playwrights collectively decided that subtlety had been out of fashion for far too long. After years of Puritan restraint, the stage came back with a knowing wink, a raised eyebrow, and a firm commitment to wit, scandal, and the complicated logistics of love.

This is drama where everyone is clever, no one is entirely trustworthy, and dialogue moves at a pace that suggests reputations are always seconds away from collapse. Manners are observed, of course, but mainly so they can be elegantly broken. The plays are sharp, satirical, and often gloriously unapologetic about the human tendency to behave badly in stylish ways.

There is a pleasing irony in reading them now. What was once daring, shocking, and socially provocative arrives as a classic text, neatly printed and academically respectable. The same lines that once raised eyebrows now sit quietly between covers, waiting for modern readers to rediscover just how mischievous “serious literature” can be.

This good copy, as sold by Crappy Old Books, is ideal for readers of English drama, literary history, and anyone who suspects that the Restoration was less about restoring order and more about restoring the nation’s sense of humour.

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