Restoration Prose
The Restoration period in English literature, spanning from 1660 to 1700, witnessed a flourishing of prose writing that contrasted with the decline of poetry and the changing nature of drama. This era saw the emergence of a new style of prose, characterized by its clarity, precision, and suitability for a variety of subjects from science to politics.
Development of Restoration Prose
Unlike the elaborate and ornate prose styles of earlier periods, Restoration prose evolved to serve practical, narrative, and argumentative purposes. It marked a departure from the poetic prose of John Milton and the metaphysical style of Sir Thomas Browne, focusing instead on clear exposition and direct communication of ideas.
The foremost practitioner and advocate of this new prose style was John Dryden , who exemplified it in works such as his critical masterpiece Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668). Dryden's prose was characterized by its simplicity, exactness, and avoid…