About this book
Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals stands as one of the most entertaining comedies in English literature, brilliantly capturing the follies of love and vanity in 18th-century Bath. Set in this fashionable spa town where wealthy society gathers to see and be seen, the play weaves together a delightfully tangled romantic plot centered on young Lydia Languish and her suitor Jack Absolute, who disguises himself as a penniless officer to win her heart. Lydia, an avid reader of romantic novels, craves a passionate elopement over a respectable marriage—a preference that sends her guardian, the widowed Mrs. Malaprop, into moral upheaval. The comic genius of this dramatic work lies in its memorable characters: the bumbling country gentleman Bob Acres, the hotheaded Irish suitor Sir Lucius O'Trigger, and most memorably, Mrs. Malaprop herself, whose hilarious tendency to misuse words sounds vaguely correct while meaning something entirely different—a verbal quirk that gave birth to the literary term "malapropism." As the schemes, disguises, and misunderstandings multiply, Sheridan crafts a masterpiece of mistaken identity and romantic chaos. Perfect for anyone who appreciates witty dialogue, clever plotting, and timeless humor, this audiobook brings Sheridan's beloved play to vivid life, reminding listeners why his work remains celebrated after more than two centuries.
