'An impressive debut by a subtle and learned scholar. Julie Peters has intellectual agility and grace; her restless seeking of connections gives her work relevance to a wide variety of literary, philosophical, historical, and social problems. This book is at once a penetrating reading of Congreve's career, a detailed study of changing attitudes toward spoken and written language, and a sophisticated contribution to the theory of genre.' James A. Winn, The University of Michigan

• Note to the reader; Introduction; 1. Drama and print; 2. Publishers, pirates and the library text; 3. The technologized muse; 4. 'Asterisms'; 5. Scandal's portraits; 6. The dictionary and the monkey; 7. Nature and art; Conclusion; Notes; References; Index.