1665 in literature

This article presents lists of the literary events and publications in 1665. Events January 5 – Journal des sçavans, the first scientific journal, begins publication in France. February 15 – Molière's comedy Dom Juan is first presented, at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré) in Paris, in its original prose version with the playwright playing Sganarelle; it is withdrawn after 15 performances after attacks on its morality. March – Fifteen-year-old Nell Gwyn makes her first firmly recorded appearance on the London stage, in John Dryden's heroic drama The Indian Emperour, playing Cydaria, daughter of Montezuma and love interest to Cortez (played by her real-life lover and acting coach Charles Hart). Hitherto she has been a theatre orange-seller. Her performance is poor. March 6 – The Royal Society of London's Philosophical Transactions begins publication as the first scientific journal in English and the oldest to be continuously published. March 16 – Royalist William Cavendish is created Duke of Newcastle. His wife Margaret Cavendish becomes duchess. Spring – An early version of the satirical play The Rehearsal, by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, is prepared for production, but cancelled due to the Great Plague of London. In this version, the hero, Bilboa, mocks Sir Robert Howard. When the play is finally staged in 1672, changed conditions inspire a revision and "Bilboa" is replaced by "Bayes," a figure inspired by John Dryden. April 17 – Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy, elected this year to the Académie française, begins a year's imprisonment in the Bastille for besmirching the reputation of ladies of the French Court in Histoire amoureuse des Gaules. May – Nell Gwyn appears opposite Charles Hart in James Howard's Restoration comedy All Mistaken, or the Mad Couple. August 27 – Ye Bare & Ye Cubbe, the first play in English in the American colonies, is performed in Pungoteague, Virginia. September 22 – Molière's comedy L'Amour médecin ("Love, the doctor") is first presented, before Louis XIV of France at the Palace of Versailles with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully. November 7 – The London Gazette is first published, under the title The Oxford Gazette. December 4 – Jean Racine's tragedy Alexandre le Grand is premièred by Molière's troupe at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré) in Paris.