The Comical History of Don Quixote: As it Was Acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden Parts I-III

London: Printed for J. Darby, 1889. Limited Edition Copy 29 of 100. Very Good/No Dust Jacket.

Peach colored cloth with blind-stamped borders; 8vo; 7.75 inches tall; iv, 305 pages; printed on watermarked laid-paper. The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Moderate shelf handling wear with tiny corner rubs. Cloth is hand-soiled.. Thomas D'Urfey's The Comical History of Don Quixote is a satirical adaptation of Cervantes' famous novel, written as a three-part play and performed at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden during the late 17th century. The parts were first published between 1694 and 1696. D'Urfey's (truncated) version takes a comedic and musical approach to the story, incorporating songs and elements of farce, diverging from Cervantes' original tone. The play was staged by Their Majesties' Servants, reflecting its royal patronage.

The plot follows episodes from Don Quixote but adapts them to fit Restoration theatrical tastes, focusing on humor and elaborate staging. It includes scenes with windmills, inns, and characters like Sancho Panza and Dulcinea. The publication was overseen by Samuel Briscoe and later other publishers during reprints in the early 18th century. [Adapted from online sources] (Inventory #: 19636)