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The year 1697 in literature involved some significant events.

Events

• George Farquhar arrives in London from Dublin.
• Thomas Corneille publishes his translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses into the French language.
• Daniel Defoe's An Essay Upon Projects suggests insurance and an income tax, among other public measures.

New books

• Mary Astell - A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part II
• Richard Blackmore - King Arthur
• Thomas Burnet - Remarks upon An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (on John Locke)
• William Congreve - The Birth of the Muse
• William Dampier - A New Voyage Round the World
• Daniel Defoe - An Essay Upon Projects (econ.)
• John Dryden - Alexander's Feast; or, The Power of Musique
  • - The Works of Virgil
• John Evelyn - Numismata: A discourse of medals
• Jane Lead - A Fountain of Gardens
• John Locke - A Letter to the Right Reverend Edward Ld Bishop of Worcester
  • - Mr Locke's Reply to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Worcester's Answer to his Letter
  • - A Second Vindication of the REasonableness of Christianity
• Charles Perrault - Tales and Stories of the Past with Morals. Tales of Mother Goose (Histoires et contes du temps passé, avec des moralités. Contes de ma mère l'Oye)
• John Phillips - Augustus Britannicus
• Humphrey Prideaux - The True Nature of Imposture Fully Display'd in the Life of Mahomet
• John Vanbrugh - The Relapse (perf. 1696, pub. 1697)
• John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester - Familiar Letters
• William Wotton - Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning (setting off the English "quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns")

New drama

• Anonymous ("a Young Lady") - The Unnatural Mother
• Colley Cibber - Woman's Wit
• William Congreve - The Mourning Bride
• John Dennis - A Plot and No Plot
• Thomas Dilke - The City Lady, or Folly Reclaimed
• Thomas D'Urfey - Cinthia and Endimion (opera)
  • - The Intrigues at Versailles; or, A Jilt in all Humours
• Charles Gildon - The Roman Brides Revenge
• Charles Hopkins - Boadicea Queen of Britain
• Peter Anthony Motteux - The Novelty, or Every Act a Play
• Mary Pix - The Deceiver Deceiv'd
  • - The Innocent Mistress
• George Powell - The Imposture Defeated, or a Trick to Cheat the Devil
• Edward Ravenscroft - The Italian Husband
• Elkanah Settle - The World in the Moon
• John Vanbrugh - Aesop
  • - The Provok'd Wife

Births

• George Anson
• William Hogarth
• date unknown - Madame du Deffand, literary hostess (died 1780)

Deaths

• March 1 - Francesco Redi (born 1626)
• June - John Aubrey (born 1626)
• Thomas Pope Blount