Shakespeare Reference in Conquest

Mark A. Calde's novel Conquest contains a reference to A Midsummer Night's Dream. Calde writes, "In all, she was an enticing creature, radiant in her youth and confident in her beauty while projecting a hint of the puckish impudence that had more than once raised a few eyebrows within the staid confines of Vassar" (p. 60). Though the idea of Puck existed before Shakespeare's play, the word "puckish" is related specifically to Shakespeare's characterization, which differed from what had been known previously.

Conquest was published in 1980. The copy I read was the hardcover edition.