A giant of eighteenth century literature, William Congreve was an English playwright and poet of the Restoration period. His poetry demonstrates a learned understanding of the classics, raw satirical power and an ironic scrutiny of the affectations of his age. Congreve’s famous plays are celebrated for their witty dialogue and their seminal influence on the comedy of manners style. The Delphi Poets Series offers readers the works of literature's finest poets, with superior formatting. This volume presents Congreve’s complete works, with related illustrations and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Congreve's life and works * Concise introduction to Congreve’s life and poetry * Congreve's complete poems – available in no other collection * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the poetry * Easily locate the poems you want to read * Includes Congreve's complete dramatic works – first time in digital print * Excellent formatting of the poems and plays * Features three biographies, including Samuel Johnson’s memoir - discover Congreve's intriguing life * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to see our wide range of poet titles CONTENTS: The Life and Poetry of William Congreve Brief Introduction: William Congreve by Algernon Charles Swinburne Complete Poetical Works of William Congreve List of Poems in Alphabetical Order The Comedies The Old Bachelor The Double Dealer Love for Love The Way of the World The Tragedy The Mourning Bride The Masque The Judgement of Paris The Opera Semele The Prose Incognita; Or, Love and Duty Reconcil'd The Biographies Congreve by Samuel Johnson Introduction to William Congreve by G. S. Street William Congreve by Leslie Stephen Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of poetry titles or buy the entire Delphi Poets Series as a Super Set

This is the first complete edition of the works of William Congreve (1670-1729), one of Britain's most important literary figures. The texts of the plays, novel, poetry, opera, and letters are presented in original spelling. The editor, D.F. McKenzie, has added his own thorough notes at the end of each volume.

The late D. F. McKenzie worked on this comprehensive edition of the works of the playwright, poet, librettist, and novelist William Congreve for more than twenty years, until his sudden death in 1999. This was a task he had taken over from Herbert Davis, to whom this edition is dedicated. During that time McKenzie uncovered new verse and letters, collated Congreve's texts, recorded their complicated textual history, constructed appendices that shed light on the dramatic context in which Congreve worked, and examined how his contemporaries received Congreve's work. More importantly, McKenzie has convincingly re-evaluated Congreve's works and life to transform our image of the man and his reputation. McKenzie here follows the editorial practice suggested in two early editions of the Works published by Congreve's friend, the bookseller Jacob Tonson, in 1710 and 1719. These three volumes follow a plan similar to that in the Tonson edition, with The Old Batchelor, The Double-Dealer, and Love for Love collected in the first, a central volume with The Way of the World, and a final volume with Congreve's novel Incognita, some of his prose works, letters, and later verse. In each case, Congreve's work is left to speak for itself, unencumbered by intrusive notes, textual apparatus, or collations, which are gathered instead near the end of each volume. This edition will be an invaluable resource for scholars for many years to come. It is a monument to McKenzie's own scholarship as well as to the integrity of William Congreve.

William Congreve was deeply involved in the events of his turbulent times. That involvement reveals itself in works which have sometimes been regarded as entirely unengaged with the realities of his society. This book attempts to read Congreve’s plays and his novella, Incognita, against the political and social upheaval of the period initiated by the rebellion of 1688. A strong supporter of the new world ushered in by William III and Mary, Congreve fought against the reactionary politics of the Jacobite opposition.

The Critical Heritage gathers together a large body of critical sources on major figures in literature. Each volume presents contemporary responses to a writer's work, enabling student and researcher to read the material themselves.