Though critical opinion on Alexander Pope has frequently been divided,
he is now regarded as the most important poet of the early eighteenth
century. An invalid from infancy, he devoted his energies towards
literature and achieved remarkable success with his first published work
at the age of twenty-one. A succession of brilliant poems followed,
including An Essay on Criticism (1711), Windsor Forest (1715), and
his masterpiece, The Rape of the Lock. A second period of great poetry
was begun in 1728 with the appearance of the first Dunciad. All these
works--which exhibit Pope's astonishing human insight, his wide
sympathies, and powers of social observation (displayed to greatest
effect in his talent for satire)--are included in this selection of his
poetry. It has been compiled by the distinguished Pope scholar and
editor Pat Rodgers, who also provides an indispensable introduction that
offers a new interpretation of Pope's poetry, and the philosophical
ideas behind it.
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.
