Thomas Gray And William Collins: Poetical Works

Oxford Standard Authors

by Thomas Gray, William Collins

Thomas Gray and William Collins, two of the 18th century's best known poets, continue to enjoy both a wide readership and critical respect. Besides his classic work, "Elegy in a Country Churchyard," Gray is known for the formal grace possessed by some poems, as well as the haunting romantic
power of others while Collins is chiefly recognized for the odes which reveal his exceptional gift for delicate lyrical writing. In this edition of the poems of Gray and Collins, the text--which carefully retains the authors' original spelling and punctuation--has been completely revised and reset,
and Gray's poems have been placed in chronological order of composition. In addition, the book features a critical introduction and explanatory head-note for each selection, chronologies of Gray and Collins, and a select bibliography.

Genres: Poetry

326 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1919

About the author

Thomas Gray was an English poet, letter-writer, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge University.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I far preferred Gray's work to that of Collins. The latter's Eclogues were fine, but much of the rest of his poetry left me cold. I think it may be that he made many references to issues and people topical for him, of which I have neither knowledge nor interest. Gray, however, deals with more universal, timeless themes, which remain relevant despite the stretch of time since he wrote. I suppose it is no accident that Gray is the more remembered.