Female Playwrights and Eighteenth-Century Comedy

The book explores the works of four pioneering female playwrights from 1670-1800, highlighting their unique thematic concerns: Behn's focus on the body, Centlivre's interest in contracts, Cowley's nationalism, and Inchbald's take on divorce. Through an analysis of their comedic events and the interplay with conventional endings, it reveals deeper philosophical, political, and legal discussions surrounding women and marriage that captivated both the playwrights and their audiences.