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John Dryden an English poet and dramatist who would dominate literary efforts of The Restoration, was born on August 19, 1631, in Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire, England. He received a classical education at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, afterwards left to London in 1657 to commence his career as a professional writer. His very first play, The Wild Gallant was a failure when first presented, but Dryden soon found more success with (The Indian Queen)which he co-authored with Sir Robert Howard and which served as his initial attempt to found a new theatrical genre, the heroic tragedy. Although George Villiers The Rehearsal, a vicious satire of heroic tragedy, brought a quick end to the form, Dryden still managed to produce a number of successful works in this genre including The Indian Emperor and Secret Love which mixed heroic tragedy with contemporary comedy. The young playwright's reputation grew quickly only ten years after his move to London, Dryden was appointed Poet Laureate of England.John Dryden died in London on May 12, 1700, and was buried in Westminster Abbey next to Chaucer. He left behind almost 30 works for the stage as well as a major critical study and a number of translations including the works of Virgil.

George Etherege, a Londoner who lived between 1636 and 1689, deserves to hold a more distinguished place in dramatic literature than has generally been allotted to him. In a dull and heavy age, he inaugerated a period of genuine wit and sprightliness; he invented the comedy of intrigue, and led the way for the masterpieces of Congreve and Sheridan.No one knows better than he how to present a gay young gentleman, "an unconfinable rover after amorous adventures." His genius is as light as thistledown; he is frivolous, without force of conviction, without principle; but his wit is sparkling, and his style pure and singularly picturesque. Soon after the Restoration he composed his comedy of The Comical Revenge, or Love in a Tub, which was brought out in the Duke's    theatre in 1664, and printed in the same year. It is partly in rhymed heroic verse, but it contains comic scenes that are exceedingly bright and fresh, with a style of wit hitherto unknown upon the English stage.He was appointed resident minister in the German court at Ratisbon, where, he met his death by accident.

Alexander Pope was born in London, the son of Alexander Pope, a Roman Catholic linen-merchant, and Edith (Turner) Pope, who was forty-four when Alexander, her only child, was born. Edith Pope belonged to a large Yorkshire family, which divided along Catholic and Protestant lines. His early years Pope spent at Binfield on the edge of Windsor Forest, and recalled this period as a golden age.After moving to London, Pope published his first major work, An Essay on Criticism. This discussion was based on neoclassical doctrines and derived standards of taste from the order of nature.n his time Pope was famous for his witty satires and aggressive, bitter quarrels with other writers. When his edition of William Shakespeare was attacked, he answered with the savage burlesque The dunciad which was widened in 1742. It ridiculed bad writers,scientists, and critics.With the growth of Romanticism Pope's poetry was increasingly seen as outdated and the Age of Pope ended. It was not until the 1930s when serious attempt was made to rediscover the poets work.

Samuel Johnson was born in lichfeld the son of a bookseller. His childhood was marred by ill health a tubercular infection affected both his sight and hearing and his face was scarred by scrofula. Johnson was educated at Pembroke College/Oxford. His father died in 1731 and left the family in poverty. The death of the poet Richard Savage who was Johnson friend had given insperation in 1743 to his first biographical work. He addressed to Lord Chesterfield his Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language in 1747 and worked for eight years with the project. Johnson spent the summer of 1784 visiting lichfield, Birmingham, and Oxford and returned to London depressed and exhausted. He died of pneumonia during the night of 13 December and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Before his death, Johnson threw into the fire a number of his manuscripts, letters, and personal papers. The bulk of his estate was left in trust for his black manservant, Francis barber. Although Johnson's celebrity at that time was phenomenal, views about him as a witty but pedantic and pompous writer came to overrule the 19th century.

John Gay was born at Barnstaple in Devon the youngest son of William Gay. He lost his parents at an early age and was brought up by his uncle, John Hammer. Gay was educated at barnstable grammar school. After finishing school Gay started as an apprentice to a silk merchant in London. He disliked the work, but a genial person.The Beggar's Opera was first performed when the author was 43. John Pepusch, a German musician, wrote popular songs for the play. The story of highwaymen and corrupt law keepers is still performed. Its sequel, Polly in 1729, was published with the help of the Duchess of queensberry, who then had troubles with the court. The Beggar's Opera was the earliest of the ballad operas which were meant as entertainment as opposed to the serious Italian operas. In this type of play the action in conveyed in prose interspersed with songs. Gay's work, a satire of corrupt government, partly attacked the ruling party and the Prime Minister Robert Walpole, who restricted activities of the theatre.Polly was banned. Like Fielding's Jonathan Wild the Great, Gay's work was a mock heroic, set in the London criminal underworld.

William congreve Born on January 24, 1670, William Congreve was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and the Middle Temple where he studied law. His literary apprenticeship was served under the tutelage of John Dryden, the leading playwright of the day. Congreve's first play, The Old Bachelor (1693) was an enormous success when it was produced at the Theatre Royal, Drury LaneCongreve gave up playwriting altogether, resolving to "commit his quiet and his fame no more to the caprices of an audience." He was only thirty years of age.Although, he would write no more plays, Congreve did not retire entirely from the theatre. He wrote the libretto for two operas and collaboratedhe lived mostly on his reputation and the royalties from his plays. He died on January 19, 1729, in a carriage accident. <- These are some of the Greatest Authors of the 18th century and restoration period that we know today!!The inspiration of those time bring great courage to many popular authors today and/or even recreating older plays that were lost or forgotten.Whether it is a comedy,dry humor,romance,action,adventure scene,etc. Anything now adays can be turned into and excellent,beautiful, and historical plays for all the world to watch pleasantly.