The Lives of the Poets
A Selection
ISBN13: 9780199226740ISBN10: 0199226741
Paperback,
592 pages
Jul 2009,
In Stock
Price:
$24.95 (11)See more from the series
Description
Here is a substantial selection of Samuel Johnson's magisterial and unforgettable portraits of the lives of the English poets of the 17th and 18th centuries. Originally covering the lives of 52 poets, with the primary focus on Milton, Dryden, Swift, and Pope, Johnson's Lives was described by Thomas Gray as a "compendious story of a whole important age in English literature, told by a great man, and in a performance which is itself a piece of English literature of the first class." Unsentimental, opinionated, and quotable, The Lives of the Poets continues to influence the reputations of the writers concerned. This selection--featuring the lives of eleven of the most important poets--draws from Roger Lonsdale's authoritative complete edition. It includes an engaging introduction, helpful notes, and an up-to-date bibliography. Its publication coincides with the 300th anniversary of Johnson's birth in September 1709.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Features
- A unique selection from Johnson's Lives of the Poets, drawn from Roger Lonsdale's acclaimed complete edition, and with an engaging Introduction and Notes by John Mullan.
- Selects ten complete Lives of the most important poets and is the only one-volume paperback edition to make available Johnson's most substantial Lives in unabridged form.
- Substantial Introduction sets the Lives in the context of Johnson's life, explains how he used them to anatomize the 'life of writing', how he was influenced by his sense of literature as a national property, and celebrates their literary qualities.
- Notes are designed for the general reader as well as the student; they explain eighteenth-century meanings, gloss allusions, and identify Johnson's sources (and errors).
- Up-to-date bibliography.
About the Author(s)
Roger Lonsdale was formerly Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford.
John Mullan teaches at University College London.
