Mary Davys, The Accomplish'd Rake, Or Modern Fine Gentleman

Martha F. Bowden (Kennesaw State University)

Ed. by Janet Todd, University of Cambridge
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1727

Places

Ireland, Republic of (Eire) (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

Sir John Galliard, the hero of the ironically titled The Accomplish’d Rake, or Modern Fine Gentleman by Mary Davys, has all the ingredients of an eighteenth-century rake: he is handsome, rich, independent, clever, and misogynist. Davys carefully prepares the background for his character: his father dies when he is young, leaving him in the hands of an attractive but inattentive mother who is a female rake. When he discovers her in bed with a footman, he declares his detestation of all women, whom he sets out to punish for her sake: “I am now so far let into Women’s Frailty, that the whole Race of Mankind should cease e’er I would endeavour to increase my own Species”.

Teachwell, his tutor, wishes him to go t…

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2387 words

Citation: Bowden, Martha F.. "The Accomplish'd Rake, Or Modern Fine Gentleman". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 August 2005 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16841, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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