Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog Project Gutenberg 2005-07-20 Public domain in the USA. 197 D'Urfey, Thomas 1653 1723 John, Gabriel Durfey, Mr. (Thomas) D'Urfrey, Thomas D'Urphy, Thomas Durffey, Thomas Krutch, Joseph Wood 1893 1970 50002264 Essays on the Stage Preface to the Campaigners (1689) and Preface to the Translation of Bossuet's Maxims and Reflections on Plays (1699) Augustan Reprint Society, publication number 12 Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net "Essays on the Stage" by Thomas D'Urfey is a collection of dramatic essays and prefaces written in the late 17th century. The work addresses controversies surrounding morality and the stage, reflecting ongoing debates about the nature of comedy and its role in society at that time. D'Urfey's essays notably include a response to criticisms from Jeremy Collier, who condemned the "immorality and profaneness" of contemporary plays. At the start of the collection, the author outlines his motivations for penning a familiar yet satirical preface to his comedy "The Campaigners." D'Urfey reacts to the criticism he received from Collier, aiming to defend the value of theatrical expression against the moralistic lens of the contemporary critics. In a humorous and combative style, he addresses the specific points of critique laid out by Collier, asserting the importance of comedy as a form of entertainment that also serves to expose vice and encourage virtue. This opening portion effectively sets the tone for a spirited defense of the theatrical art form, blending wit with serious discourse on the moral implications of comedy in society. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 52.0 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Collier, Jeremy, 1650-1726. Short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage Theater -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Early works to 1800 PN Text Category: Plays/Films/Dramas Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: British Literature 166038 2025-07-07T06:31:45.717883 text/html 158252 2020-12-12T05:45:04 text/html 196328 2025-07-07T06:31:52.319901 application/epub+zip 196923 2025-07-07T06:31:48.637903 application/epub+zip 116326 2025-07-07T06:31:47.368873 application/epub+zip 837669 2025-07-07T06:31:54.816876 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 815963 2025-07-07T06:31:51.398874 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 144716 2022-09-08T04:48:43.504395 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 143919 2025-07-07T06:31:44.999889 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 143873 2020-12-12T05:45:04 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 143868 2020-12-12T05:45:04 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 23052 2025-07-07T06:31:54.972847 application/rdf+xml 13144 2025-07-07T06:31:47.872875 image/jpeg 3435 2025-07-07T06:31:47.618880 image/jpeg 57480 2020-12-12T05:45:04 application/octet-stream application/zip 118132 2020-12-12T05:45:04 application/octet-stream application/zip 57458 2020-12-12T05:45:04 application/octet-stream application/zip 190494 2025-07-07T06:31:45.738913 application/octet-stream application/zip en.wikipedia en.wikipedia