William Congreve - The Double-Dealer: "Courtship is to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play."

More about the book

William Congreve, born in 1670, showcased his literary talent early on, with his first play, The Old Bachelor, becoming a hit in 1693. Despite a brief but impactful career, he produced only five plays between 1693 and 1700. Beyond playwrighting, Congreve wrote librettos, translated works of renowned authors, and engaged in politics, serving as Secretary of Jamaica. His life ended tragically in 1729 after a carriage accident, but his legacy endures, with his burial in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner.