Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan was an Irish satirist, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He is known for his plays such as 'The Rivals', 'The School for Scandal', and 'The Critic'. Born on October 30, 1751, in Dublin, Ireland, Sheridan also had a political career as a Whig MP for 32 years. His work is considered a significant part of English literature and theatre history. He passed away on July 7, 1816.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The School For Scandal
The play is a satirical depiction of the gossip and hypocrisy found in the high society of 18th century London. It centers around two brothers with contrasting personalities, one appearing to be a model of virtue and the other a dissolute rake, and the schemes of a circle of wealthy, idle gossipmongers. The plot thickens with a series of misunderstandings, eavesdropping, and mistaken identities, all revolving around the brothers' romantic pursuits and the malicious spread of scandal. The narrative ultimately exposes the true characters of the individuals involved, revealing the seemingly virtuous brother to be hypocritical and the seemingly dissolute one to be honorable, thus critiquing the superficial judgments and moral corruption of the elite.
The 2056th Greatest Book of All Time -
2. The Rivals
The play is a classic comedy of manners set in 18th-century Bath, England, revolving around the romantic misunderstandings and the social pretensions of its characters. The central plot follows the young Lydia Languish, who is enamored with the idea of a romantic elopement and disdains the idea of a conventional marriage. She is pursued by Captain Jack Absolute, who disguises himself as a poor ensign named Beverley to win her affections. Meanwhile, other characters engage in their own schemes and rivalries: Lydia's aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, with her famously mangled vocabulary, seeks a suitable match for her niece, while the hotheaded Sir Lucius O'Trigger and the bumbling Bob Acres both vie for the hand of the same woman. The play is a satirical examination of love, language, and social affectation.
The 2393rd Greatest Book of All Time -
3. Critic
"Critic" is a satirical play that humorously scrutinizes the pretensions and follies of the theatrical world through a play-within-a-play format. The story revolves around Mr. Dangle, an amateur critic and enthusiast of the arts, who, along with his friend Sneer, attends a rehearsal of a new tragedy written by the pompous and oblivious playwright, Mr. Puff. Throughout the rehearsal, Puff explains the various clichés and absurdities of contemporary theater, which he employs without any self-awareness, leading to a series of comedic critiques and misunderstandings about the nature of drama and the role of the critic.
The 6736th Greatest Book of All Time
