In 1660, Charles II was restored to the English throne. His brother, Charles I, was overthrown and executed during the English Civil War (1642-51). Following a period of rule by Oliver Cromwell, the Restoration brought the Stuart monarchy back to Great Britain, but questions still remained regarding politics and religion.
Parliament reimposed the Book of Common Prayer in 1662 and required all civil and military leaders to declare their faith in the Anglican Church. In essence, this eliminated Catholics and Protestant Dissenters from holding public office, attending university, owning land, and voting. Charles II and his brother, James II, were Catholic sympathizers, and Parliament feared a Catholic plot to overthrow the government.
This led to the formation of two political parties: the Tories, those who supported the king, 
and the Whigs, those who opposed the king. When James II came to the throne, he claimed the right to make his own laws and began appointing Catholics to the army and government. The birth of a son led to fear of a Catholic dynasty. Negotiations with William of Orange and Mary, the Protestant daughter of James, paved the way for an invasion. Known as the Glorious, or Bloodless, Revolution, the rule of William and Mary is the beginning of a stable, unified Great Britain.
Also known as the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason was a great turning away from religion as a primary way of life. With dogmatism blamed for the civil strife in England, Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the use of reason and empirical evidence as the primary sources of knowledge. Belief in progress and the potential for human improvement through education and science was central to Enlightenment thinking leading to a focus on the rights and potential of the individual, which influenced political and social thought.
Source: Joseph Wright of Derby, Experiment on a Bird, National Gallery of Art
Literature between 1660 and 1785 divides into three shorter periods.
1660-1700 Restoration Literature
Restoration literature often reflected and critiqued the political and social dynamics of the time. Writers used satire to address corruption, hypocrisy, and social mores. A hallmark of the period was the emphasis on wit, clever dialogue, and humor. Restoration comedies, in particular, are known for their sharp, often bawdy humor and intricate plots. The reopening of theaters after the Puritanical closure during the Interregnum led to a resurgence of dramatic works. Both comedies and tragedies were popular, with an emphasis on elaborate staging and witty dialogue. Literature often depicted the manners and behaviors of the upper classes, especially in urban settings like London. This included a focus on fashion, flirtation, and the pursuit of pleasure.
1700-1745 The Augustan period
The Augustan period (1700-1745) in British literature, named after the Roman Emperor Augustus and reflecting the perceived parallels between the reigns of Augustus and the contemporary British monarchs, was characterized by a sense of order, clarity, and balance. Literature of this period often imitated the styles and themes of classical Greek and Roman authors. This included the use of classical forms such as the epic, satire, and ode. Satire was a prominent genre, used to criticize society, politics, and human follies. Writers used wit and irony to expose the shortcomings of their society. The heroic couplet (rhymed pairs of iambic pentameter) continued to be a dominant poetic form, celebrated for its precision and balance.
1745-1785 The Samuel Johnson period
The Samuel Johnson period (1745-1785), also known as the Age of Johnson, marks a transition from the Augustan to the Romantic period in British literature. This era is characterized by a blend of neoclassical values and emerging romantic sensibilities. Literature of this period exhibits a shift from the structured, formal qualities of Neoclassicism to the more expressive and emotional tendencies that would define Romanticism. Writers often engaged in moral and philosophical reflection, emphasizing human nature, ethics, and personal conduct. The novel became an increasingly prominent literary form, with a focus on realism, character development, and social commentary. There was a growing fascination with the Gothic, the supernatural, and the sublime, reflecting a turn towards more emotional and dramatic subject matter. This period saw significant advancements in biographical and critical writing, with an emphasis on detailed, comprehensive analysis of literary figures and their works. This period saw significant advancements in biographical and critical writing, with an emphasis on detailed, comprehensive analysis of literary figures and their works.