Friday, December 16, 2011

She Stoops to Conquer

1773, Bantam Pathfinder Edition 1966 (includes The School for Scandal as well)
Oliver Goldsmith
She Stoops to Conquer; or, The Mistakes of a Night
Original price 60 cents, bought used for 40 cents
Cover has fallen off, otherwise OK condition for its age
B-

The subtitle mostly refers to the mistakes of the character Marlow, who thinks that a private house is an inn.  The "she" of the main title is Miss Hardcastle, who passes herself off as a barmaid in order to woo Marlow, who is shy with ladies but amorous with women "beneath him."  Meanwhile, Miss Hardcastle's cousin Miss Neville has a romance with Marlow's friend Hastings.  And then there's Tony Lumpkin, Miss Hardcastle's half-brother and Miss Neville's very reluctant suitor, who's introduced as an immature lump but ends up being the most likable character.  Plus, various parents and other elders.  A pretty good farce overall.

No comments:

Post a Comment