MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE by DRYDEN, JOHN - 1673

London: Printed by T. N. for Henry Herringman, 1673. FIRST EDITION. 222 x 168 mm. (8 3/4 x 6 1/2"). 6 p.l., 85, [1] pp. (lacking final blank).
Later full calf with French fillet border, smooth spine with gilt lettering, lacy gilt turn-ins. Front pastedown with ex-libris of G. Walter Steeves; front free endpaper with book label of Marion C. Walker; small stamp of Selbourne Library on verso of title and in one lower margin. Macdonald 77a; ESTC R3349; Pforzheimer 330. ◆Joints cracked and the upper board detached (lower board holding firm), a little loss at head of spine and light rubbing to extremities; paper lightly toned, final leaf slightly soiled and with three small tears neatly repaired at fore edge (well away from the text), occasional stain, vague foxing, or other minor imperfection, but generally very good internally.

This double-plotted mixture of Spanish intrigue and heroic love was the author's own favorite comedy. Of the two plots, the more intriguing one (in both senses) features two couples, each with a male attracted to the other male's woman. This attraction leads to various assignations by both of the tempted pairs, but the trysts are invariably and hilariously scheduled for exactly the same time and place! Eventually, as expected, the amorous whirlwind stops amicably. Like this play, Restoration audiences loved the Spanish comedies derived from Calderon because they emphasized ingenious reversals and usually degenerated into farce. But here Dryden operates on two levels: he uses bawdy songs while still maintaining a high social tone; he is thus able to manage incongruous plot elements to elevate as well as to delight his audience. Former owner Hugh Selbourne (1906-73) was a respected Manchester physician and a passionate bibliophile with a notable library strong in the sciences. He was the owner of virtually all of Robert Boyle's works, and his care in choosing copies is reflected in the fact that his first printing of "The Sceptical Chymist" sold at Bonham's in 2015 for a remarkable £362,500..