The Farmer's Wife: A Comedy In Three Acts

Set in rural Devon, The Farmer’s Wife is a warm and sharply observed comedy of courtship, pride, and second chances.Samuel Sweetland, widowed master of Applegarth Farm, decides it is time to remarry. Armed with confidence and a carefully considered list of “suitable” candidates, he sets out to secure a new wife. What follows is a spirited procession of misunderstandings, rejected proposals, social maneuvering, and romantic miscalculations — all played out among the colorful inhabitants of Little Silver.From fox-hunting widows to formidable spinsters, from earnest suitors to sharp-tongued servants, Phillpotts paints village life with humor, affection, and a keen ear for dialect.First staged in 1916 and long a favorite of repertory theatres, this classic three-act comedy remains ideal for modern community and regional performance.This edition faithfully preserves the original dialogue, structure, and stage directions as first published. The text reflects the language and cultural attitudes of its time.Public domain in the United States. Copyright status may differ in other countries. Read more