1661 in literature

This article presents lists of the literary events and publications in 1661. Events August 24 – Samuel Pepys sees the new production of Hamlet by Sir William Davenant's troupe of actors, the Duke's Company, with the innovation of stage scenery. The Duke's Company have recently moved from the Salisbury Court Theatre to the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields, where they have been joined by Thomas Betterton; Pepys praises Betterton's Prince Hamlet as "beyond imagination." December 28 – Controversial author James Harrington is arrested on a charge of conspiracy, while working on his final publication, A System of Politics. Unknown dates The Book of Kells (c. 800) is presented to Trinity College Dublin. Bishop John Gauden claims authorship of Eikon Basilike (1649). Third edition of Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler. The trend toward closet drama (often highly politicized), which distinguished the English Civil War and Interregnum periods, does not immediately end once the theatres re-open with the Restoration — as the publication of Hell's High Court of Justice (below) illustrates. Abraham Cowley's pamphlet The Advancement of Experimental Philosophy helps inspire the foundation of the Royal Society. The library of Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, is opened to the public at Cölln as the "Library of the Elector", foundation of the Berlin State Library. A legal deposit obligation is laid on publishers in Sweden. Francis Kirkman, in Westminster (London) operates an early form of lending library, based on a collection of his own works. New books Prose Robert Boyle – The Sceptical Chymist Gauthier de Costes, seigneur de la Calprenède – Faramond (Pharamond) Abraham Cowley – The Advancement of Experimental Philosophy Sir Robert Dudley – Dell'Arcano del Mare John Evelyn – Tyrannus, or The Mode Marchamont Nedham – A Short History of the English Rebellion Katarina Zrinska – Putni tovaruš