William Congreve

William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was a British playwright, satirist, and poet. He spent most of his early career between London and Dublin, during which he became noted for his highly polished style of writing. Congreve is regarded by many critics as one of the most important dramatists of the early Georgian era, and the popularity of his comedy plays throughout the 17th and 18th centuries was central to the development of the comedy of manners satirical genre. He is remembered for his restoration play ''The Way of the World'' (1700), which is considered by commentators to be a centerpiece of Restoration comedy literature, and his tragedy play ''The Mourning Bride'' (1697).

Congreve wrote the majority of his works in London, and his plays and poems, which formed a major part of Restoration literature, were favorably viewed by the audience for their use of satire and comedy. He first achieved significant fame in 1693, when he wrote some of the most popular English plays that shaped satirical comedy. Congreve wrote several notable works, including ''The Old Bachelor'' (1693), ''The Double Dealer'' (1693), and ''Love for Love'' (1695), all of which established him as one of the foremost writers in the comedy of manners genre. However, his literary career only lasted seven years and he wrote a total of five plays, from 1693 to 1700. Congreve may have been eventually forced off the stage due to growing concerns about the public perception of morality regarding his theatrical comedies.

After leaving the theatre stage, he remained active in political circles with the Whigs party during the early 18th century. Although he lived until 1729, he did not produce any plays after 1700, and when he died in London, he was honored with burial at the Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. Congreve remains a popular and polarising figure in English literature, and his works continue to be studied in literary circles. He is often quoted for the sharp wit in his plays, which includes, ''"O fie, miss, you must not kiss and tell"'' and ''"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"''. Provided by Wikipedia

22
by Congreve, William
Published 1733
printed for J. Tonson: and sold by W. Feales, at Rowe's Head, the Corner of Essex-Street, in the Strand

23
by Congreve, William
Published 1733
printed for J. Tonson: and sold by W. Feales, at Rowe's Head, the Corner of Essex-Street in the Strand

24
by Congreve, William
Published 1735
Printed for Jacob Tonson, in the Strand

25
by Congreve, William
Published 1761
printed for Robert Urie

26
by Congreve, William
Published 1733
Printed for J. Tonson: and sold by W. Feales, at Rowe's Head, the corner of Essex-Street, in the Strand

27
by Congreve, William
Published 1759
Printed for G. and A. Ewing, W. Smith, J. Exshaw, and H. Bradley, booksellers, in Dame-street

28
by Congreve, William
Published 1774
Printed and sold by J. Robertson

29
by Congreve, William
Published 1755
Printed for G. and A. Ewing, W. Smith, J. Exshaw, and R. James, Booksellers in Dame-street

30
by Congreve, William
Published 1735
Printed, by Theo. Jones, for George Risk, at Shakespear's Head, George Ewing, at the Angel and Bible, and William Smith, at the Hercules, in Dame-street, booksellers

31
by Congreve, William
Published 1752
Printed for James Dalton bookseller, at Sir Isaac Newton's Head on Temple-Bar

32
by Congreve, William
Published 1775
printed and sold by W. Oxlade, at Shakespeare's Head, (no. 35,) in George-Street, Old-Bailey

33
by Congreve, William
Published 1706
printed for Jacob Tonson; and sold by James Knapton at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, George Strahan over-against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, and Egbert Sanger at the Post-House near the Temple-Gate in Fleetstreet

34
by Congreve, William
Published 1766
printed for J. and R. Tonson

35
by Congreve, William
Published 1787
printed for the proprietors, and sold by Rachael Randall, No. 116, Shoe-Lane, Fleet-Street; and all booksellers in England, Scotland, and Ireland

37
by Congreve, William
Published 1788
printed for W. Lowndes; J. Nicholls; W. Nicoll; S. Bladon; and J. Barker

38
by Congreve, William
Published 1768
printed by and for Martin & Wotherspoon

39
by Congreve, William
Published 1713
printed for R. Wellington at the Dolphin and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard

40
by Congreve, William
Published 1735
Printed, by Theo. Jones, for George Risk, at Shakespear's Head, George Ewing, at the Angel and Bible, and William Smith, at the Hercules, in Dame-Street, Booksellers