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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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The Recruiting Officer
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(1706) Comedy by *Farquhar with a warm realism of character and detail, probably deriving from his own recent experience as a recruiting officer in Shrewsbury, where the play is set. Captain Plume's way of getting in contact with potential recruits is by making love to their sweethearts, while Sergeant Kite disguises himself as an astrologer to add the influence of the stars. Romance is provided by Sylvia, daughter of a local justice. Her father opposes her love for Plume. Her solution is ingenious and allows for one of the favourite pleasures of theatre-goers of that time, the sight of a pretty woman in breeches. Sylvia disguises herself as a man, gets herself arrested for bad behaviour, and is brought before her father; he hands her over to Plume as one of his recruits.
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