Mary Pix - Woman Playwright

PIX, M. The Beau Defeated: Or, The Lucky Younger Brother. A Comedy. As it is now Acted by His Majesty’s Servants at the New Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. By Mary Pix. London: Printed for W. Turner at the Angel, at Lincolns-Inn-Back-Gate; and R. Basset at the Mitre, against Chancery-Lane in Fleetstreet, [early 18th century]. Small Quarto. [4 of 6; lacking leaf after epilogue) 47 pp.[1] (22 x 17 cm). Disbound. Moderate toning and soiling, with edge wear and chipping. Small corner loss to p. 28 affecting a few letters (no significant loss of sense). Page 39 present but detached. A sound, unrestored copy. Extremely Rare Play in Commerce. A very rare copy of this lively stage comedy by Mary Pix, one of the most important and increasingly collected early women playwrights of the Restoration and early 18th century. Pix was among a small group of female dramatists writing for the London stage at a time when women authors remained exceptional, and her works are now recognized as key contributions to the development of English theatrical literature. First performed at Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre, The Beau Defeated offers a sharp and entertaining satire of class, gender, and courtship, reflecting the social tensions and wit of the period.…