“The Three Doctors” is a musical play in two acts by English writer Thomas Love Peacock, first published in 1903. A musical farce, it aims at entertaining the audience through a highly exaggerated, extravagant, and thus improbable situation. This play concerns doctors and their contemporary role in English society, presented in a satirical and highly amusing musical form. Imbued with Peacock's cutting wit and famous social commentary, it is highly recommended for lovers of the stage and entertaining societal critique. Thomas Love Peacock (18 October 1785 – 23 January 1866) was an English poet, novelist, and important figure in the East India Company. A good friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley, they both had a significant influence on each other's work. Peacock was most famous for writing satirical novels, which usually involved characters sat around a table discussing contemporary philosophical ideas. Other notable works by this author include: “Headlong Hall” (1815), “Gryll Grange” (1861), and “Melincourt” (1817). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with intoductory essays by Sir Walter Raleigh and Virginia Woolf.

Peacock's first novel is situated within its literary and historical contexts via a substantial introduction, generous notes, and annotated appendices.