The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
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
- Published
- 1775
- Nationality
- Irish
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- Unknown
- Words
- 22,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- John Lubbock, The Choice of Books (1896) (The Choice of Books (Book))
- 101 of the World's Greatest Books (1950) (101 of the World's Greatest Books (Book))