"The Rivals: A Comedy" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is a comedy of manners first performed in 1775. Set in fashionable Bath, the play follows young Jack Absolute who disguises himself as a poor soldier to win the heart of Lydia Languish, a wealthy heiress infatuated with romantic novels. Complications arise from Lydia's word-mangling guardian Mrs. Malaprop, rival suitors, and misdelivered love letters, leading to misunderstandings, quarrels, and an impending duel that threatens to expose Jack's deception. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.