The School for Scandal

About this book

Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The School for Scandal is an 18th‑century English comedy that opens with a meta‑theatrical preface explaining the provenance of the text. The edition presents Sheridan’s own manuscript, preserved at Frampton Court, and notes the many variations between this version and the one traditionally performed. The introductory notes stress that earlier printed editions were altered for theatrical effect, while this copy retains the playwright’s original punctuation, spelling and stage directions, even if they appear uneven. The drama then launches into a flamboyant prologue that summons “prim adepts in Scandal’s school” and proceeds to a bustling scene in Lady Sneerwell’s drawing‑room, where gossip‑monger Verjuice and the scheming Lady herself plot to manipulate the social entanglements of Sir Peter Teazle, his young wife, and their circle of acquaintances.

Sheridan’s voice is sparkling, witty, and sharply observant, employing rhymed verse and rapid repartee that capture the manners and foibles of aristocratic London. The language reflects the polished yet occasionally clumsy hand of an 18th‑century playwright, offering a blend of elegant epigram and lively banter. Readers who relish incisive social satire, enjoy period dialogue, and appreciate a play that both mocks and celebrates the rituals of gossip will find this work rewarding.