Essays on the Stage: Preface to the Campaigners (1689) and Preface to the Translation of Bossuet's Maxims and Reflections on Plays (1699)

Essays on the Stage, written by Thomas D'Urfey in 1689 and 1699, is a collection of dramatic essays addressing the moral and ethical controversies surrounding the English theater. The work includes a preface to D'Urfey's comedy 'The Campaigners' and a response to Jeremy Collier's critiques of theatrical immorality. D'Urfey defends the comedic arts, arguing for their value in exposing vice and promoting virtue, while employing a humorous and combative style. This collection reflects the ongoing debates about the role of comedy in society during the late 17th century.