Susanna Centlivre became a minor celebrity in the literary world of London in the early eighteenth century because of her success as a dramatist. She wrote nineteen plays, three of which were farces. Her most popular plays, which had long runs not merely during her lifetime but for many years afterward, were The Gamester (1705), The Busy Body (1709), The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret (1714), and A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1718). Many famous actors and actresses played roles in her plays, which are noted for being superbly actable. Her plots are lively; she handles dramatic action effectively; and she presents a wide range of characters from a variety of backgrounds. Though she bowed to the increasing emphasis on morality in the theater, her comedies do not easily fir into any one category. She was skilled in writing romantic comedies of intrigue, which often include a large measure of...