Thomas Otway The Best Plays of the Old Dramatists

The collection brings together the most celebrated dramas of a playwright whose work captured the restless spirit of late‑17th‑century England. An introductory essay frames the age of Restoration, describing how political upheaval and a court of licentious taste shaped a theatre that blended sharp wit with raw emotion. Detailed notes guide listeners through archaic speech, historical references, and the theatrical conventions that once filled London’s playhouses.

In these unexpurgated texts you will hear the fierce passion of star‑crossed lovers, the cunning machinations of ambitious courtiers, and the bitter humor that underlies every betrayal. The language crackles with the lyrical poetry of a time when poets still dared to rival the stage, while the dramatic structures keep you firmly rooted in the momentum of each opening act. Whether you are drawn to tragic romance or the clever repartee of Restoration drama, the listening experience offers a vivid window onto a world both grand and turbulent.