
Transcribed from the 1921 W. Heffer & Sons edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
SIX PLAYS By Florence Henrietta Darwin and an Introduction by Cecil Sharp
INTRODUCTION
FLORENCE HENRIETTA DARWIN
THE LOVERS’ TASKS - CHARACTERS
BUSHES AND BRIARS - CHARACTERS
MY MAN JOHN - CHARACTERS
PRINCESS ROYAL - CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
THE SEEDS OF LOVE - CHARACTERS
THE NEW YEAR - CHARACTERS
These six one‑act plays offer a gentle glimpse into the rhythms of English village life, where modest concerns and quiet humor shape each scene. The characters speak without heavy dialect, yet their words capture the subtle turns and metaphors of rural speech, letting listeners hear the countryside’s own cadence. From the tentative courtship in “My Man John” to the hopeful celebrations of “The New Year,” the stories unfold with the simple, heartfelt optimism that has long animated folk songs.
Each piece leans more on dialogue than on elaborate plot, allowing the everyday gestures and relationships of peasants to take center stage. The playwright paints the countryside with affection, avoiding caricature while steering clear of melodrama, so the audience can appreciate the authentic textures of work, love, and community. The result is a series of charming, accessible dramas that feel both timeless and surprisingly fresh, inviting listeners to share in the quiet joys of a world that has largely slipped beneath modern progress.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (433K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
May 1, 2004
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1920
An English playwright with deep ties to one of Britain’s most remarkable intellectual families, she wrote fiction and drama that stayed closely attuned to character and everyday life. Her work includes the posthumously published collection Six Plays and the novel The Green Broom.
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