Literature Glossary

Restoration

Definition:

The Restoration kicked off in 1660 when exiled king Charles II was restored to the throne of England (hence the period's clever name). Exactly when the Restoration ended depends—like many things—on whom you ask. Some think the Restoration just encompasses Charles' reign (1660-1685); others think it also covers the years when Chuck's little brother, King James II, took his turn at ruling England (1685-1688); still others think the Restoration covers all of the Stuart kings and queens, which means it ended in 1714 when the Stuarts got the boot.

But let's not bicker over end dates. The Restoration was a big deal for the arts. First of all, it saw the revival of the English theater. Before Charles II reopened them, the playhouses had been shuttered for eighteen years because the previous rulers found them sinful. (They shoulda seen Fifty Shades....)

Secondly, since Charles II liked to have a good time, when he hit the throne, the staunch moral code hit the road. Restoration literature was generally looser and less restrained than the literature that came before it. Love, heroic honor, and skepticism were all common themes.

Many Restoration authors wrote in reaction to Charles II's return to the throne and other political events. Some were stoked that there was an aristocracy back in place and dug Charles II's fun-loving vibe. Others fell on the opposite side of the issue and were bummed to see moral and social values go out the window.

Given these varied responses to Charles II's style, and the general state of affairs, Restoration literature was all over the place in terms of form and content. Writers churned out everything from religious moral stories and literary criticism to heroic tragedies and bawdy sexual satires. In fact, the period gave birth to an entirely new genre: the Restoration comedy, a satirical form that, in the simplest terms, featured aristocratic men and women behaving badly. Audiences ate it up.

And speaking of audiences, literacy spread to the middle, and even some of the lower, socioeconomic classes during the Restoration, too. Trade also flourished under Charles II, and the news gained in importance and popularity. Not too bad a legacy, eh?

Drafting your Fantasy Restoration Literature Team? Here are your three must-have players:

• John Dryden (1631-1700). An all-around Restoration rock star; poetry, prose, he did it all.
• John Bunyan (1628-1688). Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, this Puritan preacher was the greatest Restoration prose writer next to Dryden.
• William Congreve (1670-1729). A Dryden fanboy and Restoration dramatist of the comedic persuasion; he dabbled in poetry, too.