Ben Jonson 
The New Inn, or, The Light Heart 

Benjamin Jonson’s career began in 1597 when he held a fixed engagement in ‘The Admiral’s Men’, and although he was unsuccessful as an actor, his literary talent was apparent and he began writing original plays for the troupe. Jonson had a literary knack for absurdity and hypocrisy, a trait that made him immensely popular in the 17th century Renaissance period. However, his reputation diminished somewhat in the Romantic era, when he began to be unfairly compared to Shakespeare. Although nearly all of his most famous works were produced between 1605 and 1620, he continued to write until his death in 1637. ‘The New Inn, or The Light Heart’ was performed in 1629, only a year after Jonson suffered a stroke. The story takes place in an inn-house, where Lady Frances Frampul meets the melancholy Lord Lovel, and a complex series of far-fetched events ensues.