Literary Encyclopedia

William Wycherley

The Life

William Wycherley is an important figure in Restoration drama although his reputation as a dramatist rests on only four plays. The first, Love in a Wood was staged in 1671, his second The Gentleman Dancing Master in 1672, his third The Country Wife in 1675 and his fourth and last, The Plain Dealer, in 1676, after which he wrote nothing but some rather poor poetry which he published as Miscellany Poems in 1704, although he lived for another forty years. A mocking bawdy burlesque of Hero and Leander, published anonymously in 1669, is also credited to him

Wycherley was born in Clive, Shropshire, in 1641. There is some doubt about the exact date,

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First published 24 September 2007

Citation: Lewcock, Dawn. "William Wycherley". The Literary Encyclopedia. 24 September 2007

[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4818, accessed 30 July 2010.]

 

Life, Works and Times

Dates:

  • 1641 to 1715 (Life Span)
  • 1671 to 1715 (Activity Span)

Places:

  • England (Birth)
  • England (Primary Activity)

Activities:

  • Dramatist/ Playwright (Primary)
  • Poet (Other)