Dryden the Father of English Criticism, as Eliot points out, is a classic. He dreamt of a harmonious world which he attempted to realize in his work. His tercentenary in the year 2000 and the completion of the magnificent "California Dryden" in twenty volumes (1956-2002) have rejuvenated enthusiasm and interest in the critical reassessment of Dryden's poetry, drama and criticism. His contribution to the evolution of Restoration tragicomedy in the subgenre of the double-plot tragicomedy exhibits his consummate artistry.

This volume on Dryden's tragicomedies caters to the long-felt need of scholars of Restoration drama. It has a brief overview of the historical and critical perspectives of Restoration tragicomedy, particularly with reference to John Dryden, and attempts critical analyses of his tragicomedies to stress their unity of designs and aesthetic patterns.