Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act: Play Guide and Free Edition
Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Oxenford, John (1812–1877).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act" by John Oxenford is a comedic play written in the mid-19th century, likely during the Victorian era. This work is a farce, a genre characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations, and focuses on the comedic entanglements in a social setting. The narrative revolves around themes of mistaken identity and the absurdity of social distinctions, showcasing how appearances can be deceiving. The plot unfolds at an evening party hosted by Mr. De Windsor, who has just returned from watching a court case where a man named Pawkins was acquitted of theft, having been wrongfully accused. Eager to stand by the “innocent” Pawkins, De Windsor invites him to his party, leading to a series of humorous misunderstandings. The character of Whitewash, a barrister who defended Pawkins, finds himself tangled in a web of deception and comedy as De Windsor insists on marrying his daughter to him, believing he’s a noble defender of virtue. As the story unfolds, Pawkins inadvertently becomes the center of attention, while various characters' true intentions are hilariously revealed, ultimately culminating in a farcical resolution that highlights the ridiculousness of the societal situation.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act
- Author credits: Oxenford, John (1812–1877)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Comedy plays
- English drama -- 19th century
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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