English literature written after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 following the period of the Commonwealth.
Some literary historians equate its era with the reign of Charles II (1660–85), while others add the reign of James II (1685–88). Many typical modern literary forms (e.g., the novel, biography, history, travel writing, and journalism) began to develop with sureness during the Restoration period. Pamphlets and poetry (notably that of John Dryden ) flourished, but the age is chiefly remembered for its glittering, critical, and often bawdy comedies of manners by such playwrights as George Etherege , Thomas Shadwell , William Wycherly , John Vanbrugh , William Congreve , and George Farquhar .