William Lawrence’s Newes from Geneva, or The Lewd Levite (1662): recovering a manuscript restoration play

Streete, A. (2022) William Lawrence’s Newes from Geneva, or The Lewd Levite (1662): recovering a manuscript restoration play. Seventeenth Century, 37(5), pp. 779-799. (doi: 10.1080/0268117X.2022.2081596)

[img] Text
271379.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

766kB

Abstract

William Lawrence (c. 1636–1697) was a lawyer, man of letters, translator, and estate owner. This article considers a manuscript play by Lawrence from 1662 called Newes from Geneva, Or The lewd Levite. A Comedy which is largely unknown to scholars of Restoration drama. I begin by outlining the bibliographical and performance history of the author and the play. I then go on to consider the main and, particularly, the sub-plot in relation to the broader post-Restoration historical and literary context. By examining the depiction of the non-conformist minister Levi, and by recovering a set of contemporary sources for the sub-plot, I argue that Lawrence advances an accommodationist position towards non-conformity in the play.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Streete, Professor Adrian
Authors: Streete, A.
Subjects:B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
P Language and Literature > PR English literature
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
Journal Name:Seventeenth Century
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
ISSN:0268-117X
ISSN (Online):2050-4616
Published Online:17 June 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Author
First Published:First published in Seventeenth Century 37(5): 779-799
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
301747Polemical Laughter and Toleration in Early Modern English Literary Culture, c. 1500-1700Adrian StreeteLeverhulme Trust (LEVERHUL)RF-2018-283\1Arts - English Literature