1674 in literature

• March 26 – The new Theatre Royal, Drury Lane opens in March. Designed by Christopher Wren, it replaces the original theatre that burned down in 1672. • unknown dates • The poet Isaac de Benserade is elected to the French Academy, along with the churchman and scholar Pierre Daniel Huet. • Schlosstheater Celle is founded. By the 21st century it will be the oldest surviving theatre in Germany. • The derivative nature of Restoration drama is displayed when the Duke's Company produces Thomas Shadwell's "operatic" re-adaptation of Dryden and Davenant's 1667 adaptation of The Tempest. In response, their rivals at the King's Company stage The Mock Tempest, or the Enchanted Castle by Thomas Duffet. ==New books==

Prose • Samuel Chappuzeau – Le Théâtre François • Charles Cotton – The Compleat Gamester • John Evelyn – Navigation and Commerce • John Josselyn – An Account of the Voyages to New England, London: Printed for Giles Widdows • Thomas Ken – Manual of Prayers for the use of the Scholars of Winchester College • Anthony Wood – Historia et antiquitates Universitatis Oxoniensis Drama • Anonymous (and John Dryden?) – The Mistaken Husband • Juan Bautista Diamante – Parte II de comedias • William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle – The Triumphant Widow • Pierre Corneille – Suréna • John Crowne – Andromache • Sir William Davenant – Macbeth, a "dramatic opera" adapted from Shakespeare's play, is published • Thomas Duffet (attributed to) – The Amorous Old Woman • The Empress of Morocco: a Farce • The Mock Tempest • Nathaniel Lee – The Tragedy of Nero, Emperour of Rome • Jean Racine – Iphigénie • Elkanah Settle – Love and Revenge Poetry • Thomas Flatman – Poems and Songs • John Milton – Paradise Lost, second edition ==Births==

• January 15 – Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, French poet and dramatist (died 1762) • June 20 – Nicholas Rowe (dramatist) English dramatist and Poet Laureate (died 1718) • October – Thomas Ruddiman, Scottish classicist (died 1757) • October 6 – Nicolas-Hubert de Mongault, French writer and cleric (died 1746) • December – Christmas Samuel, Welsh writer and minister (died 1764) ==Deaths==

• March 7 – Charles Sorel, sieur de Souvigny, French novelist (born 1602) • June 14 – Marin le Roy de Gomberville, French poet and novelist (born 1600) • August 13 – Lucidor (Lars Johansson), Swedish burlesque poet (born 1638; killed in duel) • September 27 • Robert Arnauld d'Andilly, French poet and translator (born 1589) • Thomas Traherne, English poet and religious writer (born c. 1636) • October – Robert Herrick, English poet (born 1591) • November 8 – John Milton, English poet and polemicist (born 1608) • December 9 – Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon English historian and statesman (born 1609) • Unknown dates • Hu Zhengyan, Chinese artist, printmaker, calligrapher and publisher (born c. 1584) • James Janeway, English children's writer and Puritan minister (born 1636) • Miguel Sánchez, Mexican priest, writer and theologian (born 1594) ==References==