1728 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1728. Events January 28 – On the night of Esther Johnson's death, Jonathan Swift begins writing The Death of Mrs. Johnson. January 29 – John Rich, manager of the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields in London, mounts the first production of The Beggar's Opera, a ballad opera by John Gay. Its great success (it initially runs for 62 performances) makes "Rich gay and Gay rich". By the summer, it has been imitated in Thomas Walker's The Quaker's Opera; and William Hogarth begins painting scenes from it. May – Jonathan Swift and Thomas Sheridan launch The Intelligencer (periodical). October 12 – The Universal Spectator and Weekly Journal is founded by Daniel Defoe and Henry Baker. unknown dates The utenzi (epic poem) Utendi wa Tambuka is written by Mwengo, son of Athumani, one of the earliest known examples of Swahili literature. Construction of the Biblioteca Joanina at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), begun in 1717, is completed. New books Prose Penelope Aubin – The Life and Adventures of the Young Count Albertus (sequel) Peter Browne – The Procedure, Extent, and Limits of Human Understanding "Captain George Carleton" – Memoirs of an English Officer Ephraim Chambers – Cyclopaedia, or, A Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences John Dennis – Remarks on Mr. Pope's Rape of the Lock James Gibbs – A Book of Architecture Eliza Haywood – The Agreeable Caledonian Francis Hutcheson – An Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections John Oldmixon The Arts of Logick and Rhetorick An Essay on Criticism Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie (died 1580) – The Historie and Chronicles of Scotland, 1436–1565 (written about 1575, in the Scots language) Christopher Pitt – An Essay on Virgil's Aeneid Antoine François Prévost – Mémoires et aventures d’un homme de qualité qui s’est retiré du monde (begins publication) Elizabeth Singer Rowe – Friendship in Death Richard Savage – Nature in Perfection George Sewell (died 1726) – Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell Jonathan Swift – A Short View of the State of Ireland William Wycherley (died 1716) – The Posthumous Works of William Wycherley, edited by Lewis Theobald (part of Theobald's and Curll's battle with Pope and other "Tory" wits) Edward Young – A Vindication of Providence