From Publishers Weekly
Disadvantaged socially as a hunchback and cripple, politically as a Roman Catholic, Pope (16881744) rose to become the greatest poet of his age, in Byron's estimation "the great moral poet of all times." In this first full biography of him since 1900, Pope scholar Mack blends sensitive criticism of his poetry, from the early pastorals and Homer translations to such masterpieces as The Rape of the Lock and the Dunciad, with copious and intriguing detail regarding the private life. In the process he is able to show that Pope's often exaggerated disagreeable qualitieshis vengefulness, deviousness and capacity to hatewere more than offset by his generosity, moral courage and unswerving, sometimes risky, loyalty to a circle of friends that included Swift and John Gay. Pope held a mirror to his age, catching its follies and foibles, grandeur and viciousness with unrivaled precision; and Mack brings us both Pope and the age in a biography as entertaining as it is masterly. Illustrations. January 27
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
The first complete biography of Pope, the greatest English poet between Milton and Wordsworth, published this century, Mack's long-awaited Life fulfills the highest expectations. While over 1000 footnotes reveal the immense erudition of the world's leading Pope authority, the preceding 800 pages of text are written with elegance and clarity that animate their subject, his friends, his many enemies, and England in the early 18th century. Supplemented by 100 carefully chosen illustrations, this superb work is a fit companion to Irvin Ehrenpreis's monumental biography of Pope's close friend and sometimes collaborator, Swift ( LJ 3/1/84). Indispensable for literary and biographical collections. Peter Sabor, English Dept., Queen's Univ., Ontario
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
