1677 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1677. Events January 1 – Jean Racine's tragedy Phèdre is first performed, at the Hôtel de Bourgogne (theatre) in Paris. February Nathaniel Lee's blank verse tragedy The Rival Queens, or the Death of Alexander the Great is performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, with Mrs. Charlotte Melmoth as Roxana. Thomas Killigrew, ineffective after four years as Master of the Revels, is replaced by his son Charles. September – Edward Ravenscroft's tragicomedy King Edgar and Alfreda, on the subject of King Edgar of England. Thomas Rymer's less successful play on the same subject is published in 1678. date unknown Roger Morrice begins his Entring Book, a manual diary describing society in the period 1677 to 1691. Froinsias Ó Maolmhuaidh's Grammatica Latino-Hibernica nunc compendiata, the first printed grammar of the Irish language (in Latin), is published by the Congregation of Propaganda Fide in Rome in the year of his death. New books Prose Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery – Treatise of the Art of War Edward Cocker – Cocker's Arithmetick Christian Knorr von Rosenroth – Kabbala Denudata (publication starts) John Mason – Major Mason's Brief History of the Pequot War John Milton – The History of Britain Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford – A Philosophical Essay of Music Eirenaeus Philalethes – An Exposition upon Sir George Ripley's Vision. Baruch Spinoza – Opera Posthuma (with first known publication of his Ethics) Fabian Stedman – Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing