Lives of the English Poets : Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Lives of the English Poets: Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope" by Samuel Johnson is a literary biographical collection written in the early 18th century. The work offers in-depth assessments of prominent English poets throughout history, focusing especially on the complicated lives and contributions of Matthew Prior, William Congreve, Richard Blackmore, and Alexander Pope. Through critical analysis and personal anecdotes, Johnson explores how their unique backgrounds, career experiences, and personal philosophies influenced their writing and place within English literature. The opening of this work establishes the context for Johnson's detailed examinations of the poets. It begins with an introduction outlining Johnson's philosophy regarding literary criticism, citing the importance of context and moral implications when assessing poetry. The author specifically recounts anecdotes about Matthew Prior, emphasizing his rise from humble beginnings to an eminent position in society and literature. It also touches on Prior's education and engagement with notable figures of his time. The opening sets the stage for a deeper exploration of individual poets, showcasing how their lives interweave with the broader currents of English literary history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Transcribed from the 1891 Cassell and Company edition by David Price

Notes:

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lives_of_the_Most_Eminent_English_Poets

Reading ease score: 58.8 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2004-02-01