The Nobler Pleasure: Drydens Comedy in Theory and Practice

The author traces Drydens theory of comedy through two main stages of development, 1663-75 and 1675-1700. In the first stage, Dryden conceives of ideal comedy as a heightened mixture of Jonsonian humor and Fletcherian love and wit. In the second stage, naturalness and satire become the key principles, and Shakespeare becomes his primary model.

Originally published in 1963.

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