Social Mode of Restoration Comedy by Kathleen M. Lynch explores the social dynamics and influences that shaped Restoration comedy. Lynch examines the impact of court influences, the comedic traditions inherited from earlier English dramatists, and the evolution from Jonsonian realism to the sophisticated wit of Restoration playwrights like Etherege and Congreve. Through detailed analysis, Lynch argues that Restoration comedy should be viewed as a distinct genre that reflects the social and cultural milieu of its time. The book includes chapters on the historical context, the influence of French précieuse tradition, and the works of major dramatists, providing an in-depth understanding of how Restoration comedy mirrored the manners and mores of the English aristocracy. This scholarly work, originally a dissertation for the University of Michigan, has been expanded and revised to offer a comprehensive study of the period's comedic art.