The Rival Widows, or Fair Libertine (1735)

“Literary history rarely politely follows the trajectories literary scholars have laid out for it and Elizabeth Cooper’s The Rival Widows is an example of a non-sentimental comedy in an era often regarded as one in which sentiment ruled. Tiffany Potter’s edition, now in paperback, makes widely available to scholars and students a witty and enjoyable play which, if it has been neglected in the past, will surely not be ignored in the future.” Jessica Munns, Department of English, University of Denver

“This lively play, with its independent, pleasure-loving heroine, is a valuable addition to the growing number of accessible editions of eighteenth-century plays and of women,s writing.  Tiffany Potter has supplied an authoritative introduction that contextualizes the play in several ways, including within theatrical practices of the time and within major social and intellectual movements. The illustrations are well-chosen, as are the important documents printed as appendices.” Paula R. Backscheider, Philpott-Stevens Eminent Scholar, Department of English, Auburn University

“Tiffany Potter’s erudite edition of The Rival Widows not only reclaims this valuable script for theatre history, but also provides a lucid introduction that argues persuasively for the singular importance of this play. It allows one to see the sheer complexity of the sexual and theatrical economies of the early eighteenth century.” Daniel O’Quinn, Professor, School of English and Theatre Studies, University of Guelph