Momus Triumphans: or, the Plagiaries of the English Stage (1688[1687])

"Momus Triumphans: or, the Plagiaries of the English Stage" by Gerard Langbaine is like a guide to plays from long ago. It's a detailed list of English plays up to the late 1600s, telling who wrote them and what kind of stories they were; the work shines a light on the problem of copying in writing. The author explains why he made this catalogue, pointing out that other lists had mistakes and weren't well organized; Langbaine, who knows a lot about plays, collected many of them and noticed that writers were stealing ideas without giving credit. So, this book aims to be a trustworthy source of information, celebrating writers who come up with original ideas for the theatre.