SOURCE: Centlivre, Susanna. “Preface to Love's Contrivance.” In The Dramatic Works of the Celebrated Mrs. Centlivre, Vol. 2, 1872. Reprint. New York: AMS Press, 1968.

In the follow essay, originally published in the 1703 edition of Love's Contrivance, Centlivre defends her style of playwriting by pointing to her popular success with audiences. The author also mentions her debt to Molière.

Writing is a kind of Lottery in this fickle Age, and Dependence on the Stage as precarious as the Cast of a Die; the Chance may turn up, and a Man may write to please the Town, but 'tis uncertain, since we see our best Authors sometimes fail. The Criticks cavil most about Decorums, and cry up Aristotle's Rules as the most essential part of the Play. I own they are in the right of it; yet I dare venture a Wager they'll never persuade the Town to be of...