1662 in literature

Template:Short description Template:Year nav topic5 Template:Use British English This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1662.

Events

• February 15 – The first performance of Sir William Davenant's The Law Against Lovers – the first Restoration adaptation of Shakespeare, consisting of an amalgam of Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing – is given by the Duke's Company at its new theater in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.<ref name=Shakespeare>Template:Cite book</ref>
• September 29 – Samuel Pepys in his diary calls the King's Company production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in London "the most insipid, ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• October 18 – John Ogilby, Master of the Revels in Ireland, opens the first Theatre Royal, Dublin, in Smock Alley.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• December 26 – The première of Molière's comedy The School for Wives (L'École des femmes) is held at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré) in Paris.<ref name=swan>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• unknown dates
  • Two autos sacramentales by Pedro Calderón de la Barca – Las órdenes militares and Mística y real Babilonia – are the subject of an inquiry by the Spanish Inquisition. The former is censured and its manuscript copies confiscated, and remains condemned until 1671.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • The Parliament of England passes the first Printing Act of the Restoration era, the Licensing of the Press Act, which restricts London printing to a total of 24 printing houses, each with no more than three presses and three apprentices. Books printed abroad are banned.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roger L'Estrange is granted a warrant to seize seditious books or pamphlets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

New books

Prose

• Church of England – 1662 Book of Common Prayer<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Sarah Blackborow – The Oppressed Prisoners' Complaint<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Margaret Cavendish – Orations of Diverse Persons<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Cyrano de Bergerac (posthumous) – États et Empires du Soleil (The States and Empires of the Sun)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Franciscus van den Enden – Kort Verhael van Nieuw-Nederland (Brief Account of New Netherland)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• John Evelyn – Sculptura: or The history, and art of chalcography and engraving in copper...<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive British Library. Retrieved 4 November 2018.</ref>
• Thomas Fuller – The History of the Worthies of England<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• John Heydon
  • The Harmony of the World<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • The English Physician's Guide<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Adam Olearius – The Voyages & Travels of the Ambassadors (translated by John Davies, of Kidwelly)<ref>Bibliographical details Retrieved 12 September 2017. Template:Webarchive</ref>

Drama

• Margaret Cavendish – Plays Written by the Thrice Noble, Illustrious and Excellent Princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle (closet dramas)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Aston Cockayne – The Tragedy of Ovid published<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Pierre Corneille – Sertorius<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Sir William Davenant – The Law Against Lovers<ref name=Shakespeare />
• William Heminges – The Jews' Tragedy published<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Robert Howard – The Committee<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Francis Kirkman (probable compiler) – The Wits, or Sport for Sport (collection of drolleries)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Thomas Middleton and John Webster – Anything for a Quiet Life published<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Molière – The School for Wives<ref name=swan />
• John Wilson – The Cheats<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Poetry

• Joost van den Vondel – Joannes de Boetgezant<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Michael Wigglesworth – The Day of Doom, or A Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgement<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Births

• January 27 – Richard Bentley, English classicist (died 1742)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
• October 18 – Matthew Henry, English Bible commentator (died 1714)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Baptized December 17 – Samuel Wesley, English poet and author (died 1735)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
• unknown date – John Hudson, English classicist and librarian (died 1719)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Deaths

• March 10 – Samuel Hartlib, German-born English polymath (born 1600)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• March 30 – François le Métel de Boisrobert, French poet (born 1592)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• May – Daniel de Priézac, French political writer (born 1590)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• August 17 – Richard Hubberthorne, English Quaker preacher and writer (born 1628)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
• August 19 – Blaise Pascal, French philosopher (born 1623)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• unknown date – Henry Jeanes, English controversialist and pamphleteer (born 1611)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>