The Basset-Table (1705) is a sharply constructed comedy of manners that turns the fashionable card game of basset into a theatrical emblem of risk, appetite, and social performance. Around Lady Reveller's gaming circle, Centlivre arranges plots of courtship, deception, and economic calculation, while Valeria's scientific curiosity offers a striking counter-image to the idle "woman of pleasure." Written in brisk prose, sparkling repartee, and lively intrigue, the play belongs to the post-Restoration stage yet revises its conventions by making female intelligence and sociability central to comic action. Susanna Centlivre (c. 1669–1723), actress, poet, and one of the most commercially successful women dramatists of the early eighteenth century, knew both the practical theatre and the precarious conditions of women's authorship. Her experience in performance, her Whig-leaning interest in liberty and reason, and her repeated attention to marriage as contract rather than destiny all inform this comedy's skeptical view of social games. Readers interested in Restoration and Augustan drama, gender studies, or the history of gambling will find The Basset-Table especially rewarding. It remains entertaining not merely for its wit, but for its acute understanding of how money, desire, and reputation are wagered in public life.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
