This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1685.

Events January 22 – Antoine Furetière is expelled from the Académie française for proposing to publish a complete dictionary of the French language himself. February – The death of King Charles II of England brings a major theatrical flop in the Restoration era: Albion and Albanius – an allegorical drama in praise of the king with a text by John Dryden and music by Louis Grabu – is in rehearsal at the time.Libretto. Retrieved 23 May 2020. June – A revised version of Albion and Albanius fails largely because it coincides with the invasion of the Duke of Monmouth.Grove. Retrieved 23 May 2020. June – Parliament revives the Licensing of the Press Act 1662, limiting London printers.Licensing acts. Retrieved 23 May 2020. unknown date – The Fourth Folio of Shakespeare's works is published in London.

New books Prose Scipion Abeille – Histoire des Os ("Description of the Bones") Aphra Behn – Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister Ihara Saikaku – Five Women Who Loved Love John Spencer – De Legibus Hebraeorum, Ritualibus et earum Rationibus libri tres

Drama Jean Galbert de Campistron – Andronic John Crowne – Sir Courtly Nice Thomas d'Urfey The Banditti, or A Lady's Distress A Commonwealth of Women (adapted from The Sea Voyage) Nahum Tate The Cuckold's Haven (adaptation of Eastward Ho) A Duke and No Duke (adaptation of Sir Aston Cockayne's Trappolin Suppos'd a Prince)

Births January 9 – Tiberius Hemsterhuis, Dutch critic (died 1766) March 12 – George Berkeley Irish philosopher and bishop (died 1753) June 30 – John Gay, English poet and dramatist (died 1732)

Deaths March 18 – Francis Harold, Irish Franciscan historian (year of birth not known) c. April 14 – Thomas Otway, English dramatist (born 1652) April 29 – Luc d'Achery, French author of critical editions of medieval manuscripts (born 1609) June 16 – Anne Killigrew, English poet and painter (born 1660) June 17 – Andrew Allam, English historian (born 1655) July 1 – Nalan Xingde, Chinese ci poet (born 1655) September 25 – Jean Cabassut, French theologian (born 1604) October 23 – Yamaga Sokō (山鹿 素行), Japanese philosopher (born 1622) unknown date – Placido Puccinelli, Italian historian (born 1609)

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