Product Description
Alexander Pope has often been termed the first true professional poet in English, whose dealings with the book trade helped to produce the literary marketplace of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.In this representative selection of Pope's most important work, the texts are presented in chronological sequence so that the Moral Essays and Imitations of Horace are restored to their original position in his career.
This edition represents the single most comprehensive anthology of Pope's works.The Duncaid, The Rape of the Lock, and Imitations of Horace are presented in full, together with a characteristic sample of Pope's prose, including satires, pamphlets, and periodical writing.This edition also includes a further reading list, an invaluable biographical index as well as indexes of titles, first lines, and correspondences.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The 18th Century's Greatest "Learned Wit"
Dr. Pat Rogers, editor of this particular edition, often describes Alexander Pope as the first professional writer in the English language. Indeed, there is something highly polished in the prose and poetry of Pope, a self-awareness of the art unfolding before you. Those seeking a single "compact" edition of Pope's major works would do well to purchase this book. Dr. Rogers's careful editing, wonderful introduction, and in-depth scholarly notes are of sustained importance for the neophyte reader. He includes in this edition "The Rape of the Lock" (perhaps Pope's most anthologized and most read work), "The Dunciad" (a denser work usually the province of graduate students and scholars of the 18th century), as well as Pope's epistles, satires, works of literary criticism (students and scholars of Chaucer and Shakespeare will particularly enjoy Pope's assessment, while "An Essay on Criticism" is essential for all students of the historyof literary criticism).

In contrast to the isolated genius of the 19th century, who sought to write poetry removed from the everyday concerns of society, Pope exemplifies the pinnacle of urban (and urbane) poetry which was, in its time, deeply implicated in the contemporary political, social, and religious controversies. Pope's satiric glance at a world in which he could never fully participate (ironically, he enjoyed the leisure time to write because of his condition as invalid) offers the reader a view of the 18th century at once in love with its intricate and luxurious detail while simultaneously baffled and angered by its ostentatious frivolity.

Great stuff!
Opinions differ, with regard to Alexander Pope, but then again it's hard to find any subject at all where opinions do NOT differ!

I think that Pope was one of the most clever and skilled man who ever wrote verse in English, and that his verse rises pretty frequently to the level of poetry.His translation of "The Iliad" is probably immortal.I was surprised to learn that he farmed out the translation of "The Odyssey" to lesser lights: half of the books in the "Pope" translation of "The Odyssey" were, in fact, ghost-written!

If you have never read anything by Pope and want an introduction, then find yourself an easy chair, pour yourself something cordial to drink, and read the "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot."I never get tired of this minor masterpiece! ("Why break a butterfly upon the wheel?" is just one example.But I could cite the whole thing!)

Highest recommendation! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
The Odyssey is the sequel to the Illiad in which the Greek hero Odysseus has many adventures in his travels. After the fall of Troy Ulysses (the name the Roman's gave Odysseus) returns to Ithica. During the nine years of the Trojan War and the subsequent eleven years it takes Odysseus to return home, his wife Penelope has to deal with a group of disruptive suitors. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Literary Criticism / General; Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Literary Criticism / Semiotics ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Clarendon Press in 1872 in 169 pages; Subjects: Law / General; Law / Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice; Law / International; Law / Reference; Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Literary Criticism / Poetry; Poetry / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Travel / Essays & Travelogues; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

How could they leave out "Lies"
My only comment... if you like this author, look up his poem "Lies".It's one of my favorites!
Otherwise, nice collection.

Step aside Byron, Dryden, and Shelley
Step aside Byron, Dryden, and Shelley Words are not enough to describe the great pope, I have read the works of many poets but none come close to Pope. Practically self educated he puts words in such a way and with such wit, that you often feel and say "That is so true, so beautifully described"........ take a minute and contemplate on the below. A great Master
1. Some in search of wisdom, lose their common sense and then turn critics in their own defense.
2. Men deal with their life as children with their play, who first misuse then cast their toys away.
3. Launch not beyond your depth but be discreet , and mark the point were sense and dulness meet.
4. A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong which is but saying, in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

Consult the Genius of the Place
When I first started reading this collection, I thought that eighteenth century poetry was dry and inferior to later forms of literature, especially when compared with the innovations of the twentieth century. After delving deeply into some of Pope's major poems, I realized how wrong I was. Pope's wit was astounding, and he was a true poetic genius in his ability to capture concepts and arguments in beautifully rendered images and metaphors. His abilities are best summarized in these famous lines from his "Essay on Criticism": "True wit is nature to advantage dressed, / What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed."

I was often surprised by Pope's ability to articulate ideas that had occurred to me, but I was never able to articulate myself. It is a testament to Pope's insight into the human condition that his lines still ring true three hundred years since their first appearance. The subtle, complex ideas found in his poetry will expand your thoughts in ways you never though possible, especially if you have never experienced poetry from this period before.

For me, some of the highlights from this collection are "The Rape of the Lock", a beautifully detailed mock-epic steeped in the material culture of the eighteenth century; "Windsor Forest", a topographical poem that encodes and critiques the history of England in a description of its landscape; "Epistle to Burlington", a stinging criticism of "false taste"; and "Eloisa to Abelard", an emotionally wrenching letter of tragic medieval romance. For those interested in the writing and critiquing of literature (admittedly, not everyone), the brilliant "Essay on Criticism" will be the standout piece here, with its vast complexities and beautiful imagery. Furthermore, the detailed notes in the back of this edition should fill you in on any historical or literary references that will assist in your interpretation of the poems.

This edition is an amazing introduction to the poetry of one of the greatest writers in the English language, and a good first step into a fascinating period of literature. Don't be afraid! Read this book!

YevtushenkoSelected Poems
This was concurrently, my introduction to Russian poetry and the poetry of Yevgeny Yevtushenko back in my early 20's. The simple prose style of the translations was appealing to a 20 year old. But since then, many of the poems have become touchstones for my own receeding youth and my Slavic family heritage. The lengthy opening poem, "Zima Junction", tells of Yevteshenko's own youthful days growing up in a small town in Siberia. The final poem, "People", affirms the spirituality of life without a single reference to religion. "Encounter" describes a chance encounter of Yevtushenko with Hemingway in Copenhagen. ("It was the very image of Hemingway. Later I heard that it wasHemingway.") "Babiy Yar" is perhaps, the most famous poem in the collection. It describes the slaughter of Russian Jews by the Nazis and the collusion of the antisemite Soviet regime. The last few lines of this poem are some of the most moving I have ever read.
"No Jewish blood runs among my blood,
but I am as bitterly and hardily hated by every anti-semite as if I were a Jew. By thisI am a Russian." ... Read more

Product Description
The most complete and usable edition of Pope's poetry presenting the corpus of his poetry as printed in the Twickenham edition with Pope's own notes and a selection of the annotations in the other volumes of the Twickenham edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Bad Kindle
The kindle version is very poorly done. In particular, the notes - essential for following Pope's allusions, many of which were pretty obscure even when they were first published two and a half centuries ago - are jumbled together en mass at the end of the book, without any links to the text. They are essentially unusable, and so is the book. It's not that the publisher didn't know how to link, asthere are hyperlinks for the indexes of titles and first lines. But for the all-important notes, that was apparently too much trouble. Funny thing is, they've priced this edition like a professional work, rather than the public domain hackwork that it more nearly resembles.

A Worthless Edition of some of the Best Poetry in English
Now, when I say "worthless edition" I do not at all refer to the Twickenham version of Mr. Pope's poetry, which is beyond excellent, but rather to the Kindle version of the Twickenham version, which one might have naively assumed would be the same.As I'm sure others have noticed, books on Kindle sometimes have a few mistakes in them.I do not consider this a very big deal in general, and I'm hardly about to complain about it in the free or ninety-nine cent books.

However, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of confusing errors in the Kindle edition of this book, which absolutely do not appear in its ink-and-paper incarnation.Some of them, such as one letter for another when the text is italicized, are consistent, but most are totally random.I'm familiar enough with the poetry that I'm rarely slowed down by these myself, but anyone who has not carefully read it before will be constantly baffled: an erroneous letter typically forms a different word, a word which makes absolutely no sense in the context, thus forcing you to guess at the real one, a frustrating exercise, to be sure, and one that must be repeated every few pages at the very least.

The most complete one-volume Pope available
This one-volume reprint of all the authentic original poems of Alexander Pope, first published in 1963, derives from the Twickenham Edition, the recognized standard text of Pope's poetry.It is exhaustive, even down to containing early versions of lines like the verses on "Atticus" which ended up years later in the "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot," and reprints both the "Tibbald" and "Cibber" versions of the "Dunciad."It also has a great deal of useful editorial annotation, though not so much as to overwhelm or supplant Pope's own text and frequent notes.Highly recommended to all who love Pope's verse. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Except no subtitutes...I didn't!
I have had my copy of this edition since the late 1980s.It was the required book for a graduate class on Pope.However, I was taking the undergrad Age of Satire class, which required a lesser cheap pulp paperback, with less material, less notation etc.My professor was a little miffed I took the book away from one of his grad students (it was offered in the store, I guess they only ordered so many copies??).Anyway, I wonder how many of his then grad students are still refering and reading their copies, when I have poured over mine for over 15years now.Dr. Mell if you are reading, it is not wasted.Very few writers have crossed the path of true genius like Pope has.

"How far your genius, taste, and learning go...."
This Riverside Edition of the -Poetry and Prose of
Alexander Pope- published by Houghton Mifflin is an
excellent collection.For it contains complete works
from his earliest efforts (Pastorals written at the age
of 16) through the final Four Book complete version
of "The Dunciad" which he published in October 1743.
Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 -- 30 May 1744) is the
middle representative of a great Triumvirate of
British literature encompassing the Neo-Classical
or Augustan Age.This period saw, at its best, writers
emulating the classical values and styles which they
found in the ancient works of Greece and Rome. Also,
as a result of the excellent educational backgrounds
which they received, writers desired to bring forth
English translations of those ancient Greek and Roman
writers. Pope brought out an excellent English
translation of Homer's -Iliad-.The other two
authors of the Triumvirate are John Dryden (1631 - 1700)
before Pope, and Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) after Pope.
The works included in this well-priced volume are:
Pastorals (with a Discourse on Pastoral Poetry); The
Episode of Sarpedon (from The Iliad); Sapho to Phaon;
An Essay on Criticism (complete); Messiah; Epistle to
Miss Blount, With the Works of Voiture; Windsor-Forest;
The Rape of the Lock (complete); Epistle to Mr. Jervas;
Eloise to Abelard; Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate
Lady; To Mr. Addison; An Essay on Man (complete); Epistles
to Several Persons: Richard Temple, To a Lady, Allen
Lord Bathurst, Richard Boyle; An Epistle to Dr.
Arbuthnot; Satires and Epistles of Horace Imitated
(First Satire, Second Book; Second Satire, Second
Book; Second Satire, First Book; Second Epistle,
Second Book; First Epistle, Second Book; Sixth
Epistle, First Book; First Epistle, First Book);
The Satires of Dr. John Donne, Versified (Second
Satire; Fourth Satire); Epilogue to the Satires
(Dialogue I; Dialogue II); The Dunciad, in Four
Books (complete); A Letter to the Publisher;
Martinus Scriblerus of the Poem; Book First,
Book Second, Book Third, Book Fourth); essay
in -The Guardian-, No. 40; Peri Bathous, or
The Art of Sinking in Poetry; Preface to the
Iliad; and Preface to the Works of Shakespear.
Pope, born a Roman Catholic and suffering a
tubercular infection of the spine in adolescence
which stunted his growth and gave him a hump-backed
appearance, was an outsider to the mainstream of
British life in one sense.Yet it gave him a
very good vantage from which to be able to critique
and satirize the people and events around him.
However, he is not simply the jabbering, acid-penned
"monkey" that many of his targets were all too prone
to counter-mock him as being.Pope was a highly
intelligent, thoughtful, reasonable (when not riled),
extremely well-read genius.And even though he bears
all the regalia of the Neo-Classical scholar and poet,

yet some of his views and feelings seem like the
forerunners of English Romanticism -- he favored the
natural, unsymmetrical English garden over the stylized,
pruned, sculpted, balanced Neo-Classical gardens of the
French.
No reader should be wary of the multiple lines of
poetry which may be encountered in Pope.Simply go
slowly -- think about what he is saying and enjoy
his intelligence, his reason, his classical learning,
and even his satirical thrusts.
-- Robert Kilgore.

One of the best Pope editions
This edition of Pope's work is very, very good.Included are all the major poems, a good selection of the minor poems, and some of Pope's best prose.Also, the edition is edited by Aubrey Williams, a Pope critic withgenuine stature and ability, who knows Pope better than any of the editorsof more recent editions.This book is an excellent selection for anyonelooking for a one-volume edition of Pope. ... Read more

Product Description
One of The Enlightenment's greatest poets, Alexander Pope was famous for his wit, brilliant epigrams, and razor-sharp satire of fashionable society's foibles. Presented here in their entirety are several of his principal works, including the delightful mock-epic The Rape of the Lock, Essay on Criticism and his satirical masterpiece, The Dunciad. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Kindle 2 version just OK
In response to reviewer wondering why only 2 reviews, I might assume peeps prefer the mobi edition. For 4 bucks you get all Pope's works PLUS index and table of contents.
If I were still a student I might have pounced on this wonderful freebie. Fortunately I can spare a few bucks today for ease of use.
When purchasing freebies, remember: you get what you pay for.
I think Pope said that.

Great Introduction to Alexander Pope
This book has a good selection of Pope's best-known works, and was the perfect Christmas gift for my father-in-law, as it contained all of his favorites without being too cumbersome.I also appreciated both the easy-to-read format and the font selection.While many textbooks are printed in a small font, this edition comes in a size 11 point font, which is easier on the eyes, but not so large as "large print" versions.It would be a wonderful introduction to Alexander Pope's poetry for someone who is not familiar with it.

THE BEST POPE VOLUME ANYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
First off, WHY THE HELL IS THIS THE FIRST REVIEW ON SUCH A VOLUME AS IMPRESSIVE AS THIS!?!?!? Alexander Pope was definatley in the top five of greatest English poets (Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth) and to read his works is like sipping a glass of fine wine, wearing a cool powdered wig, lying back on a sofa listening to Handel. Pope was the coolest hepcat in the hood. He was so great, an age was named after him in 18th century English literature-THE AGE OF POPE (1712-1744)-roughly

But, getting to the point, this is a very comprehensive volume of Pope's prime work. Of course, it's Signet-the best reasonably priced books you can buy. Not only does this great volume contain the complete 5 canto version of The Rape of the Lock (1712-1717), the Essay on Man (1734), Essay on Criticism (1711), The Dunciad (1728) and many more of his brilliant verse satire, the finest of the Neoclassical period (1660-1784). ... Read more

Product Description
Celebrated title poem—a survey of the nature of the universe and man’s place in it—along with "The Rape of the Lock," "Ode on Solitude," "The Dying Christian to His Soul," "Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady," "An Essay on Criticism," "Epigram Engraved on the Collar of a Dog," "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot" and more.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

NIce
I'm not a big poet but its got some really nice poems.I got it for the essay on man so the rest was just a bonus.

Great Collection, Incredible Value
Samuel Johnson said that it may be a thousand years before another man comes along with powers of versification equal to Alexander Pope. It is a testament to Pope's greatness that this still does not seem hyperbolic. Indeed, in the nearly three centuries since he wrote, only a few English poets even rival his variety, and only Alfred Tennyson rivals his sheer technical mastery and quotability. The first thing one notices is his near-superhuman command of poetry's technical aspects; perhaps no one else in English has such an astonishing touch with meter, rhyme, stress, etc. His poetic variety is also notable; though best known for his unmatched heroic couplets, he mastered a diverse array of mediums. This is of course all the more striking since the moderns threw most of this out the proverbial window a century ago, making Pope a poet one essentially either loves or hates, though all can at least appreciate him. He is the acknowledged master to those who prefer formal poetry, while those who like free verse and other non-traditional forms may well think him stilted, old-fashioned, and portentous. His legend indeed became partly eclipsed when non-traditional poetry became standard, but the last few decades have seen a welcomed revival. It is clear that, whatever one prefers, Pope simply has no peer in terms of stately, precise English verse.

But Pope was far more than just a technical wizard; he is at least as notable for intellectual depth. Indeed, only Percy Shelley and Thomas Hardy among English poets are even in his league for matching craft with philosophical vigor and other thought-provoking material. It is no coincidence that several of Pope's poems, including some of the most famous, have "Essay" in the title. They essentially are essays on the philosophical issues of his day but in poetic form - a novelty then and now. Readers should not let this scare them; though often dense, Pope is nearly always readable. His language is frequently elevated, but the fact that he is quoted more often by English speakers than nearly any other writer - often without their even knowing it, so famous has his work become - shows that he is accessible. Pope's key asset here is clearness; he is so articulate and precise that we rarely wonder what he means, in great contrast to most writers of his vintage. His key issues are not ours, but his greatness and clearness are such that we can still read with interest and attention. This is all the more remarkable when we consider that his optimistic, religion-based worldview now seems distinctly naïve. Pope is one of its last exponents still read with anything but historical interest - nay, without laughter. His intellectual robustness is such that he makes the perspective seem respectable; it would take a very skilled rhetorician to refute him, and there is almost certainly no one alive who would even think of doing it in verse.

Pope's erudite reputation is well-deserved, but he is also perhaps English poetry's premier satirist. He was known to wield a fearsome pen that more than made up for his physical inadequacy, viciously mocking opponents so thoroughly that few were able to even attempt defense - all in immaculate, ever-interesting verse. His references, often disguised, to contemporary people and events are now lost on us, but we can still easily appreciate his wit and humor. Pope's verse continues to stand as some of the most bitingly satirical and humorous in English - a true sign of his astonishing variety.

As for this particular edition, it is a treasure for the curious. Containing nine poems, including full versions of the lengthy works "An Essay on Criticism," "The Rape of the Lock," and "Essay on Man," spread out over about one hundred pages, this gives an excellent overview. "Essay on Man" is Pope's greatest philosophical poem, a tour de force of his philosophy that still holds up intellectually and of course poetically. The equally great "An Essay on Criticism" is the most successful example of literary criticism in verse; many have tried, but none have come close. Pope does much to back up his views, but his essentially common sense approach has wide appeal. "The Rape of the Lock" is Pope's most famous satirical poem, a mock epic that still amuses many. The other six selections are some of Pope's best and most famous short works, showcasing his command of various forms, unparalleled skill at epigrammatic verse, and often startling lyrical beauty. Again showing his variety, they range from highly emotional to thought-provoking to humorous.

Like other Dover Thrift Editions, this is essentially a bare bones volume, though it has more supplementary material than most. There is a short biographical note and, unusually for Dover, a small number of footnotes. The latter are very helpful in identifying contemporary references but do little to explicate Pope's numerous learned allusions to things now far from common knowledge, especially classical mythology. Many will be confused and lost. Even so, this is a superb primer for the curious and will likely lead them to read more. One could hardly hope for a greater selection in such a convenient and inexpensive volume; the value is simply incredible. The dedicated will of course be disappointed by the incompleteness as well as things like the absence of line numbers and should seek out more comprehensive and/or deluxe volumes, but everyone else would do well to start here.

One of Pope's best.
Probably the most lucid poem in the English language expressing Enlightenment ideals, but still not without some critiques their consequences too (Lo the poor Indian whose untutored mind... / No Christian's thirst for gold...)

The classic master of English verse
Pope is the great master of polished English verse. He is the most skilled craftsman, perhaps, that the language has known. "Like the alexandrine that drags its slow length along" Pope everywhere illustrates a mastery of form as feeling. Yet precisely his precision and his intellect are what make the verse less than deeply appealing to a poor romantic soul such as myself. Pope can be a master moralist ( Vice is a monster of such frightful mien/ that to be hated needs but to be seen/ but seen too oft/ familiar with her face/ we first endure, then pity, then embrace./ And he can hold up the mirror to man and nature in a way that inspires rational hope. He can play and mock at us ( I am his master's dog at Kew, pray tell me, Sir whose dog are you?) but he does not reach the deepest down nature that the Romantics that come after will.
This fine collection contains his most famous poems " The Rape of the Lock" and "The Essay on Man' and the reader can know through this work the best of Pope. But whether the best of Pope belongs in the same league with Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton, Keats, Wordsworth, is another question.
PS I have just been rereading 'Essay on Man' and I think my previous remarks are somewhat wrongheaded. Pope 's thought is complex and ordered, and expressed with a beautiful facility of phrase. There are many memorable lines. I think I made the mistake of looking for Pope to be another kind of Poet, and not appreciating fully the kind of brilliant, intellectual, impersonal, philosophical Poet he is.

Crown jewels in Pope's diadem
Pope's defining masterworks, "Essay on Man" and "The Rape of the Lock", are crystalizations of the 18th Century's defining impulses.The "Essay on Man" proselytizes on behalf of the deistic belief in an ordered, rational universe where humankind is no divine favorite but can understand its place on the Great Chain of Being and find happiness through knowledge and acceptance.Most will join with Voltaire in his hearty rejection of the doctrine "Whatever is, is right," yet it is impossible to deny the ennobling quality of Pope's optimism:
"Grasp the whole worlds of reason, life, and sense,
In one close system of benevolence:
Happier as kinder, in whate'er degree,
And height of bliss but height of charity."
Where "Essay on Man" expresses the rational principles of the Enlightenment, "The Rape of the Lock" exemplifies the love of the frivolous, the fashionable, and the feminine which gave such light and warmth to an era famed for its elevation of the intellect. The poem exemplifies the Rococo, that most playful of styles in literature; nowhere else in English lit does so much of the spirit of Boucher come through.Pope'sverse swirls and sparkles in melodic luxuriance, his creamy couplets smooth and shapely as a woman's legs.
This compact edition also includes the "Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady", one of the most beautifully severe (and overlooked) poems in the language-- a rare triumph of Neo-Classical lyric.Here also are the famous "Essay on Criticism", the galloping satire of the "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot", Epistle IV of the "Moral Essays", the"Ode on Solitude" and "The Dying Christian to His Soul", and the famed little epigram from a dog's collar-- all magnificent, all of them compact and gracious in expression, articulate and penetrating in thought.The serious devotee of Pope will want to go on to the treasures (and scholarly annotations) of the Twickenham edition, but this is a terrific anthology of some indispensable works from this controversial and indispensable genius. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is Alexander Pope's translation of "The Iliad" (1715-20) into heroic couplets. Homer's tale of the Trojan war is a compassionate view of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death in the face of an overwhelming and often uncaring divinity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great Book Poorly Printed
Pope's translation is excellent, and the story is a great one. However, I am a little disappointed because the quality of the copy I received is poor. The print is very faint or patchy in a lot of places. In some places whole words are missing.

A work of genius, though not strictly a work of Homer
Pope's version of the Iliad is one of the master works of English literature, and I keep returning to it with enjoyment and gratitude.It is not, however, a translation in the commonly understood modern sense--certainly not a faithful attempt at representing what Homer was like as a writer, or what the original Iliad was like.This is inescapably Pope's Iliad:a neoclassical work that couldn't be more 18th century if it tried.Pope rearranged and liberally padded his Homeric framework, imposing heroic couplets and filling the epic throughout with Latinate sententiousness, consistently balanced phrasings, and moralistic digressions not found or even suggested in the original.

The result is glorious, but not what one could justly call a translation of Homer's work.Better, I think, to regard Pope's poem as an imitation or "imitatio" in the neoclassical sense, one of history's greatest exemplars of the breed.Enjoy its countless virtues, but recognize them as largely belonging to the English "translator."

A proper library ought to have AT LEAST two English Iliads--Pope's and Fitzgerald's.Read and treasure the former to experience Pope's genius; the latter to experience Homer's.

It remains the Best Translation
Why is this rip off so hard to find?

Alexander Pope's translation of this epic masterpiece from 1725 is THE ONLY TRANSLATION THAT I CARE TO KNOW ABOUT

Why must an innocent bibliophile be ripped off to get definitive translation????!!!!
This, the definitive translation of Homer's classical epic The Illiad is a rip off. It's really too bad because the other translations (yes, my friends, silly ignoramouses have actually tried to translate something that was made perfect by the greatest English poet) ARE CRAP! It's almost unbelievable that all the other sh!++y translations are easier to find than the definitive translation by the Great Alexander Pope (1688-1744).

Who cares what they say... it's the best translation.
Alexander Pope was undoubtedly the most talented versifier ever to walk the English-speaking portions of this earth.Forget Shakespeare, forget Milton... they don't know anything about iambs compared to Pope.Once you've taken in the first 1000 couplets or so, you'll see what I mean.Plus, this is an excellent, faithful translation of Homer, no matter what the purists think.Sure, Rouse is great for prose, but if you want beauty and grandeur, Pope is your man.This book deserves a special place on your shelf: file under PERFECT. ... Read more

Product Description

This collection was designed for optimal navigation on Kindle and other electronic devices. All books included in this collection feature a hyperlinked table of contents and footnotes. The collection is complimented by an author biography.

Customer Reviews (2)

Great value Kindle text
This has every one of Pope's works that anyone might want, presented well with the verse actually formatted as verse. (This cannot be counted on in eBooks, I find.)

Fine Collection
Works of Alexander Pope. Includes An Essay on Criticism, An Essay on Man, The Rape of the Lock, Moral Essays, Poetical Works (in 2 Volumes) and The Iliad, ... Published by MobileReference (mobi).

This is an amazing collection of works of Alexander Pope. Pope's wit was astounding, and he was a true poetic genius in his ability to capture concepts and arguments in beautifully rendered metaphors. For those interested in the critique of literature, the brilliant "Essay on Criticism" will be the standout piece here, with its vast complexities and beautiful imagery. Read this ebook! ... Read more

Product Description
Five classic works by Alexander Pope in one collection with an active table of contents.

Works include:
An Essay on Criticism
An Essay on Man
Poetical Works of Pope: Volume I
Poetical Works of Pope: Volume II
The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

If publisher has to apologize for quality of reprint I don't need.
Let it be known that Kessinger Publishing sourced this reprint from Google Books.Every page has Google printed at the bottom.Why they chose this particular edition to reprint eludes me.It isn't the most complete or a first edition or the most beautiful or cleanest scanned or superlative in any way. It has all the faults of the original scan such as underlined words, plus some defects of their own printing process added.Also the binding appears to be just glued together.

The publisher states that "This important reprint was made from an old and scarce book.Therefore, it my have defects such as missing pages, erroneous pagination, blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, marginalia and other issues beyond our control."This information should have been made available before purchase.

"...a faultless piece to see..."
With a small quote from Alexander himself as the title I clearly state my approval! His works are unlike anything I have read in early English Literature. His very original attitude and way of speaking his mind makes him who he is. A must read for any reader who wants to be entertained! ... Read more

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Winner of the Christian Gauss Award of Phi Beta Kappa and the Robert Kirsch Award of the Los Angeles Times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A hero-poet gets his due at last
Alexander Pope fought many obstacles during his lifetime--tuberculosis of the bone that deformed his spine, hack writers who were jealous of him, a corrupt government--and through it all created some of the greatest poetry of the 18th century.But changing poetic fashions and a self-righteousness among his commentators impaired his reputation.Maynard Mack remedies such trends in the first biography this century covering Pope's whole life.The writing sparkles, the facts are fully documented, and there is something of the detail that helps the reader feel he or she "knows" Pope by the end.We catch something of the courage that it took for Pope to rise from physical and political disabilities that would have crippled lesser individuals, to speak for reason and liberty in the face of enemies like Sir Robert Walpole, an utterly unethical individual who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.We also sense the pathos of things that Pope could not transcend: for example, his inability to find romantic intimacy due to his physical deformity.Prof. Mack has crafted a remarkable and informative book that should interest both the scholar and the casual reader ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: New York : Brentano'sSubjects: Alexander VI, Pope, 1431-1503RenaissanceNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The way literature should be done!
This review should be taken seriously considering I didn't really like "The Rape of the Lock" and still give this book 5 stars!

"History is not a vacuum," one of my university history professors always told us.Neither is literature for that matter!This book examines the mock-epic poem "Rape of the Lock" in its social, literary, and historical contexts.The poem takes up a small portion of the book, and the rest is made up of diary entries, letters, essays, newspapers, etc. that help to explain the culture surrounding Pope.The city of London, clothes, card games, coffee, makeup, social norms, and countless other things are discussed in very readable and enjoyable ways in order to make "The Rape of the Lock" truly come alive.

The ultimate "mock epic"
This poem serves two purposes.First, Pope wrote it in response to an upper-class quarrel over an event at a party in which a young girl had her hair cut.The incident itself was petty and stupid, but the families of the parties involved were taking it very seriously.Pope, then, wrote this poem in epic form (the most grand of poetic forms) to show the absurdity of the matter, and thus reconcile the offender and offended.

That is the first function of this poem.Even though the incident is long forgotten, the poem is still very funny.But there is a greater purpose to this poem--it was written like an epic.It contains several epic elements--an epic battle (at the card game), the invocation of muses and gods, the epic quest (to cut the hair), and several literary devices, such as epic-length similes and catalogs.This is what makes this poem so great, and what serves as a testimony to Pope's remarkable genius for wit and satire.

Pope was, in my opinion, one of the greatest English poets, certainly the greatest satirist.This is one of his greatest works, and it is short enough to read over and over again without investing too much time.

Brilliantly written with wit, style, and a flair for detail.
This is a highly intelligent book on one of the finest poems by the eighteenth century's most celebrated poet.Brilliantly written with wit, style, and a flair for interesting detail, Wall's book includes textual informationand a wealth of carefully selected secondary material that makes this "one-stop shopping" for anyone interested in the work or indeed in the period.Because of its combination of lively writing and scholarly erudition, I would recommend Wall's book for a wide variety of interest and knowledge levels.Wonderful Bedford series idea and terrific book. ... Read more

Product Description
Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of
scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for the most
part, to shut our ears against conviction; since, from the very gradual
character of our education, we must continually forget, and emancipate
ourselves from, knowledge previously acquired; we must set aside old
notions and embrace fresh ones; and, as we learn, we must be daily
unlearning something which it has cost us no small labour and anxiety to
acquire.

And this difficulty attaches itself more closely to an age in which
progress has gained a strong ascendency over prejudice, and in which
persons and things are, day by day, finding their real level, in lieu of
their conventional value. The same principles which have swept away
traditional abuses, and which are making rapid havoc among the revenues of
sinecurists, and stripping the thin, tawdry veil from attractive
superstitions, are working as actively in literature as in society. The
credulity of one writer, or the partiality of another, finds as powerful a
touchstone and as wholesome a chastisement in the healthy scepticism of a
temperate class of antagonists, as the dreams of conservatism, or the
impostures of pluralist sinecures in the Church. History and tradition,
whether of ancient or comparatively recent times, are subjected to very
different handling from that which the indulgence or credulity of former
ages could allow. Mere statements are jealously watched, and the motives
of the writer form as important an ingredient in the analysis of his
history, as the facts he records. Probability is a powerful and
troublesome test; and it is by this troublesome standard that a large
portion of historical evidence is sifted. Consistency is no less
pertinacious and exacting in its demands. In brief, to write a history, we
must know more than mere facts. Human nature, viewed under an induction of
extended experience, is the best help to the criticism of human history.
... Read more

Product Description
Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for the most part, to shut our ears against conviction; since, from the very gradual character of our education, we must continually forget, and emancipate ourselves from, knowledge previously acquired; we must set aside old notions and embrace fresh ones; and, as we learn, we must be daily unlearning something which it has cost us no small labour and anxiety to acquire.

And this difficulty attaches itself more closely to an age in which progress has gained a strong ascendency over prejudice, and in which persons and things are, day by day, finding their real level, in lieu of their conventional value. The same principles which have swept away traditional abuses, and which are making rapid havoc among the revenues of sinecurists, and stripping the thin, tawdry veil from attractive superstitions, are working as actively in literature as in society. The credulity of one writer, or the partiality of another, finds as powerful a touchstone and as wholesome a chastisement in the healthy scepticism of a temperate class of antagonists, as the dreams of conservatism, or the impostures of pluralist sinecures in the Church. History and tradition, whether of ancient or comparatively recent times, are subjected to very different handling from that which the indulgence or credulity of former ages could allow. Mere statements are jealously watched, and the motives of the writer form as important an ingredient in the analysis of his history, as the facts he records. Probability is a powerful and troublesome test; and it is by this troublesome standard that a large portion of historical evidence is sifted. Consistency is no less pertinacious and exacting in its demands. In brief, to write a history, we must know more than mere facts. Human nature, viewed under an induction of extended experience, is the best help to the criticism of human history. Historical characters can only be estimated by the standard which human experience, whether actual or traditionary, has furnished. To form correct views of individuals we must regard them as forming parts of a great whole--we must measure them by their relation to the mass of beings by whom they are surrounded, and, in contemplating the incidents in their lives or condition which tradition has handed down to us, we must rather consider the general bearing of the whole narrative, than the respective probability of its details.

Download The Iliad Of Homer Now! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More and Less
Pope's Iliad was published to great fanfare and is a tour de force today. I cannot read Greek, but the translation, almost directly line by line, matches well with the translations of Fagles, Lattimore and Fitzgerald. Pope writes in his accustomed heroic couplets with a clarity and skill really matchless. Despite his ability to vary the rhythm of his lines, most readers will find the iambic pentameter couplets a bit stultifying over time. For poetic power, for lines that recapitulate something of the Iliad's themes of war and death, of hacking meaning out of life, for drama and speeches, I prefer Fitzgerald.
That said, Pope's Iliad (I don't know how he does this while remaining faithful to Homer) communicates Pope's own opinion's on government and human relations developed as they were by 18th century England. He is an ardent monarchist, fears disorder and mob rule more than tyranny, has a gentle, almost finicky distaste for the rough and tumble of any sort of tumult. Pope's versifying is remarkable, his style and opinions will strike modern readers as old fashioned, even anachronistic, but this remains an interesting translation of Homer plus a revelation of Pope himself and a political snapshot of post-restoration England. ... Read more