1673 in literature

This article presents lists of the literary events and publications in 1673. Events February 10 – The première of Molière's comédie-ballet The Imaginary Invalid (also translated as The Hypochondriac) takes place in Paris. During the fourth performance, on February 17, the playwright, playing the title rôle, collapses on stage, dying soon after. Thomas Killigrew is appointed Master of the Revels in England, on the death of his predecessor, Sir Henry Herbert. In response to events of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, John Dryden's topical play Amboyna, about happenings in the East Indies, is reportedly "contrived and written in a month" – certainly one of the fastest acts of solo dramatic composition known. The play is premièred on stage in May. Elkanah Settle's tragedy The Empress of Morocco, premièred on July 3 at the Dorset Gardens Theatre in London by the Duke's Company, is published in quarto; in addition to its frontispiece illustration, the quarto contains five woodcuts depicting scenes in the play – the first English play text illustrated in this way. Settle's play also inspires a farce with the same title, probably by Thomas Duffet, performed by the King's Company and published the following year. Archpriest Petrovich Avvakum writes his Zhitie (Life), as the first Russian autobiography. Antonio Magliabechi is appointed librarian to Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. New books Prose Bathsua Makin – An Essay to Revive the Ancient Education of Gentlewomen England's appeal from the Private Cabal at Whitehall to the Great Council of the Nation by a true Lover of his Country – pamphlet attributed to Sir William Coventry Francis Kirkman – The Unlucky Citizen John Ray – Observations topographical, moral, and physiological, made on a Journey through part of the Low Countries, Germany, Italy, and France Johannes Schefferus – Lapponia Shugi Washo Sir William Temple, 1st Baronet – Observations upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands Thomas Traherne – Roman Forgeries