"The Recruiting Officer

George Farquhar (1678-1707) wrote some of the most actable and exhilarating comedies in English. He recorded with great frankness the brutality and the disorder of his age as well as its wit and vivacity. In his tragically short life he had wide social experience, moving between Irish country gentry, the theatre, and the army, which enabled him to depict convincingly the lives of the poor, frequently tricked and coerced into army life. he veered between cynical acceptance of current sexual politics and a remarkably understanding view of his women characters. Under the General Editorship of Michael Cordner, of the University of York, the texts of the plays have been newly edited and are presented with modernized spelling and punctuation. They are based on first editions, but later textual changes are also included to reflect the fluid opportunism with which Farquhar handled comic conventions. In addition there is a scholarly introduction and detailed annotation, which bring into focus the many challenges which Farquhar posed to society. This book is intended for students of Restoration and 18th-century drama and literature; Irish drama.