Passion for living : John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester / R.E. Pritchard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pritchard, R. E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Poets, English--Early modern, 1500-1700--Biography.

Poets, English.

Poets, English--Early modern--Biography.

Rochester, John Wilmot, Earl of, 1647-1680.

Rochester, John Wilmot.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

175 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Lutterworth Press, 2012.

Summary:

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), has long been notorious as one of the most entertaining, extravagant and scandalous members of Charles II's court. He was also the most brilliant, witty and insightful satirist and lyric poet of his time, limited only by his early death caused by venereal disease and alcoholism. Passion for Living combines biography with literary criticism, providing a full discussion of his life and writings set in the context of his times - the licentious court of Charles II and his mistresses, the Dutch wars and the so-called Popish Plot. Pritchard provides close readings and analyses of Rochester's love lyrics, bawd songs and shrewd satires, related to the writings of his contemporaries, such as Thomas Hobbes, Samuel Butler and John Dryden. This informative and readable study will be of interest to both the general reader and the student. Book jacket.

Contents:

I A Very Hopeful Youth (1647-1664) 7

II Courting Danger (1665-1667) 19

III Unaccountable Things (1667-1670) 35

IV Ambiguous Love (1670-1673) 49

V Vain Animals (1674) 71

VI Fantastical Odd Man (1675-1676) 87

VII In the Wild Maze (1676-1677) 106

VIII Scurvy Alarums (1678-1679) 126

IX A More Serious Bent (1679-1680) 144

X Coda 161.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [168]-170) and index.

ISBN:

0718892992

9780718892999

OCLC:

756167100

Publisher Number:

99949594688