The Devil is an Ass
by Ben Jonson
- First published
- 1994
- Reading level
- Easy
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Devil is an Ass" by Ben Jonson is a Jacobean comedy first performed in 1616. When a minor devil named Pug begs to visit Earth, Satan warns him that London's vices have grown too sophisticated for a simple demon. Sent to plague the foolish Fabian Fitzdottrel, Pug finds himself hopelessly outmatched by cunning swindlers and charming gallants who converge on his master. As confidence men spin elaborate schemes and pursue Fitzdottrel's virtuous wife, the hapless devil discovers that human corruption far exceeds anything Hell has to offer.
- Comedy plays
- English drama
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #50150. The Devil is an Ass on Wikipedia.
