{"product_id":"rivals-book-richard-brinsley-sheridan-9781016593403","title":"The Rivals","description":"During a brief but brilliant literary career, Irish-born dramatist and statesman Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) wrote cleverly plotted plays that revealed his nimble wit and keen eye for comic situations. Two of them -- \u003ci\u003eThe School for Scandal\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Rivals\u003c\/i\u003e -- are among the funniest in the English language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Rivals\u003c\/i\u003e, brimming with false identities and with romantic entanglements carried on amid a cloud of parental disapproval, satirizes the pretentiousness and sentimentality of the age. It features a cast of memorable characters, among them the lovely Lydia Languish, whose pretty head has been filled with nonsense from romantic novels; Capt. Jack Absolute, a young officer in love with Lydia; Sir Anthony Absolute, Jack's autocratic father; Sir Lucius O'Trigger, a fiery Irishman; and Jack's provincial neighbor, Bob Acres, a bumptious but lovable country squire in love with Lydia.\u003cbr\u003eHoping to win Lydia's affection, Captain Jack woos the pretty miss by pretending to be a penniless ensign named Beverley, an act that nearly incites a duel with Acres. His actions also provoke serious objections from Lydia's aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, a misspeaking matron whose ludicrous misuse of words gave the English language a new term: malapropism. Ultimately, the hilarious complications are resolved in a radiant comic masterpiece that will entertain and delight theater devotees and students of English drama alike.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51014840123665,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51014842384657,"sku":"NIN9781016593403","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1016593406.jpg?v=1751110068","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-ie\/products\/rivals-book-richard-brinsley-sheridan-9781016593403","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}