1654 in literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1654. Events July – Lady Dorothy Osborne plays the leading role in a country-house staging of Sir William Berkeley's tragicomedy The Lost Lady. While the London theatres remain closed, amateur theatricals continue at private houses in England. Like performances of courtly masques before 1642, many of these performances feature women, foreshadowing the acceptance of professional women performers in the early Restoration era. New books Prose Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery – Parlhenissa, a novel Martino Martini – De Bello Tartarico Historia John Milton – Defensio Secunda Richard Sherlock – The Quaker's Wilde Questions objected against the Ministers of the Gospel. Drama Anonymous – Alphonsus Emperor of Germany published (wrongly attributed to George Chapman) Alexander Brome – The Cunning Lovers Richard Flecknoe – Love's Dominion Henry Glapthorne (?) – Revenge for Honour published (wrongly attributed to George Chapman) James Howell – The Nuptials of Peleus and Thetis (published) Thomas Jordan – Cupid His Coronation Thomas May – Two Tragedies, viz. Cleopatra and Agrippina (published) Robert Mead – The Combat of Love and Friendship (published) John Webster (and Thomas Heywood?) – Appius and Virginia (published) Álvaro Cubillo de Aragón El