An Essay Of Dramatick Poesie

Abstract

A superb piece of literary criticism by Dryden written during the Plague of 1666 and first published in 1668. The essay is a discourse between 4 speakers including Dryden himself. They discuss the necessity of abiding by the 3 dramatic unities prescribed by Aristotle if necessary, but also trying new techniques. They also discuss traditions of classicism and the neo-classicism. Absorbing!