Volume one of Congreve¿s restoration plays is an excellent example of his genius. William Congreve was an English playwright and poet of the Restoration Period. After writing five highbrow sexual comedies his plays lost favor and he stopped writing. He retired at age 30. The two volume set contains a lengthily introduction and four of his plays: The Old Bachelor, Love for Love, The Double Dealer, and his most famous play The Way of the World.