{"product_id":"the-country-wife-9798897183524","title":"The Country Wife","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): William Wycherley\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Lushena Books\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Lushena Books\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: General\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Country Wife\u003c\/strong\u003e is a \u003cstrong\u003eRestoration comedy\u003c\/strong\u003e written by \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Wycherley\u003c\/strong\u003e and first performed in \u003cstrong\u003e1675\u003c\/strong\u003e. It is a sharp, witty, and often scandalous satire of \u003cstrong\u003elust, marriage, hypocrisy, and social pretensions\u003c\/strong\u003e in Restoration-era London. Known for its \u003cstrong\u003esexual innuendo and farcical plot\u003c\/strong\u003e, the play is one of the most famous examples of \u003cstrong\u003eRestoration comedy of manners\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe play follows three interwoven plots involving deception, seduction, and social satire.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehe play's main character, \u003cstrong\u003eHarry Horner\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a notorious womanizer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo continue his affairs without suspicion, he spreads \u003cstrong\u003ea false rumor that he has been rendered impotent (\"a eunuch\") due to a supposed venereal disease\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a result, \u003cstrong\u003etrusting husbands\u003c\/strong\u003e allow their wives to visit him freely, thinking he is harmless-when in fact, he seduces them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Pinchwife\u003c\/strong\u003e, a jealous and possessive husband, has married \u003cstrong\u003eMargery\u003c\/strong\u003e, a na?ve young woman from the countryside.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe keeps her locked away, fearing she will be corrupted by \u003cstrong\u003eLondon's immoral society\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, Margery is \u003cstrong\u003ecurious and full of life\u003c\/strong\u003e, eager to experience the city.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen she secretly meets Horner, she is immediately drawn to him, leading to comic misunderstandings and \u003cstrong\u003ea series of disguises and deceptions\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlithea\u003c\/strong\u003e, Pinchwife's intelligent and virtuous sister, is engaged to \u003cstrong\u003eSparkish\u003c\/strong\u003e, a foolish fop who cares only about appearing fashionable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarcourt\u003c\/strong\u003e, a witty and honorable man, falls in love with her and tries to prove he is a better match.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough clever wordplay and persistence, Harcourt \u003cstrong\u003eexposes Sparkish's shallowness\u003c\/strong\u003e and wins Alithea's love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMargery, now infatuated with Horner, nearly \u003cstrong\u003eexposes their affair\u003c\/strong\u003e, but Horner and his friends \u003cstrong\u003equickly cover up the scandal\u003c\/strong\u003e through a series of absurd lies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePinchwife is \u003cstrong\u003etricked into believing Margery remains innocent\u003c\/strong\u003e, despite clear evidence to the contrary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlithea \u003cstrong\u003eabandons her engagement to Sparkish\u003c\/strong\u003e and chooses Harcourt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHorner, having successfully deceived society, \u003cstrong\u003eremains unpunished\u003c\/strong\u003e, leaving the play's central joke intact: \u003cstrong\u003ethe most immoral man gets away with everything.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lushena Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45657274220695,"sku":"9798897183524","price":1418.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9798897183524.webp?v=1768600398","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/the-country-wife-9798897183524","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}