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The Task: A Poem
Excerpt from The Task: A Poem
Cowper tells us that he was a dabbler in rhymes at the age of fourteen. During his London residence he wrote occasional essays for periodicals and love poems for his cousin Theodora. In the first year at Olney he wrote, in conjunction with Newton, the Olney Hymns, among which are the Old favorites, God moves in a mysterious way, Oh, for a closer walk with God, and There is a fountain filled with blood. But it was his protecting genius, Mrs. Unwin, who really introduced him to the world. Being urged by her to write, as a means of divert ing his mind, and finding increasing delight in the new occupation, he produced The Progress of Error, Ex postulation, Retirement, and other long didactic poems. These were published in 1782, but attracted little attention. But another valued friend, Lady Austin, introduced him to fame She had already given him the story for John Gilpin, and was begging him to attempt something really worthy of his genius in the blank verse of Milton, when one day he answered I will if you will give me a sub ject. Oh, you can write on any subject, said she, write upon this sofa. Hence arose the Task, imposed by the Fair, which began in mock heroics, and grew into a noble poem of six books that gave to the timid recluse of Olney the position of first poet of the century.
In 1786 Cowper removed to Weston, one mile from Olney, where he completed an excellent translation of Homer. His last years were filled with agony. Mrs.
Unwin died in 1796, after a long illness, through which he had attended her with loving devotion. The shock reduced him to a state of hopeless despondency, and three years and a half later he was buried by her side.
Cowper, in many respects, is the Milton of private life. - sainte-ecuco.
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Cowper tells us that he was a dabbler in rhymes at the age of fourteen. During his London residence he wrote occasional essays for periodicals and love poems for his cousin Theodora. In the first year at Olney he wrote, in conjunction with Newton, the Olney Hymns, among which are the Old favorites, God moves in a mysterious way, Oh, for a closer walk with God, and There is a fountain filled with blood. But it was his protecting genius, Mrs. Unwin, who really introduced him to the world. Being urged by her to write, as a means of divert ing his mind, and finding increasing delight in the new occupation, he produced The Progress of Error, Ex postulation, Retirement, and other long didactic poems. These were published in 1782, but attracted little attention. But another valued friend, Lady Austin, introduced him to fame She had already given him the story for John Gilpin, and was begging him to attempt something really worthy of his genius in the blank verse of Milton, when one day he answered I will if you will give me a sub ject. Oh, you can write on any subject, said she, write upon this sofa. Hence arose the Task, imposed by the Fair, which began in mock heroics, and grew into a noble poem of six books that gave to the timid recluse of Olney the position of first poet of the century.
In 1786 Cowper removed to Weston, one mile from Olney, where he completed an excellent translation of Homer. His last years were filled with agony. Mrs.
Unwin died in 1796, after a long illness, through which he had attended her with loving devotion. The shock reduced him to a state of hopeless despondency, and three years and a half later he was buried by her side.
Cowper, in many respects, is the Milton of private life. - sainte-ecuco.
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
53 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1785
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
William Cowper
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The Task
, best-known work of William Cowper, British poet, considered a precursor of romanticism, in 1785 praises rural life and leisure.
William Cowper served as an English hymnodist. Cowper, one most popular man of his time, wrote of everyday nature scenes of the English countryside and thus changed the direction of 18th century. In many ways, he foreran later authors. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "modern," whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired Yardley-Oak . He a nephew of Judith Madan.
From severe manic depression, Cowper suffered, found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, often experienced doubt, and feared doom to eternal damnation. His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote Amazing Grace , the hymn) led to much memorable writing.
William Cowper served as an English hymnodist. Cowper, one most popular man of his time, wrote of everyday nature scenes of the English countryside and thus changed the direction of 18th century. In many ways, he foreran later authors. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "modern," whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired Yardley-Oak . He a nephew of Judith Madan.
From severe manic depression, Cowper suffered, found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, often experienced doubt, and feared doom to eternal damnation. His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote Amazing Grace , the hymn) led to much memorable writing.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 12, 2016
At the time I'm writing, there are 9 ratings and no reviews of this extended blank verse meandering. Perhaps no-one has time any more to read this sort of stuff, so popular in the 18th century. Yet there's a lot to enjoy in the interminable circumlocutions - line after line describing how to make a hotbed to grow cucumbers (not that he's as explicit as that, you have to know how before you start reading), and enough technicalities of horticulture to write a book on herbaceous borders -
And then there are the famous quotes, 'England, with all thy faults, I love thee still' , 'God made the country and man made the town', 'the cups, that cheer but not inebriate', which I suppose prove how much this was read and absorbed in its time.
It's a bit soporific, though!
And then there are the famous quotes, 'England, with all thy faults, I love thee still' , 'God made the country and man made the town', 'the cups, that cheer but not inebriate', which I suppose prove how much this was read and absorbed in its time.
It's a bit soporific, though!
April 21, 2021
i want to read this. i like this book
January 30, 2025
not particularly enjoyable to read in one sitting but I respect him
February 11, 2022
I think that this has some really, really wonderful moments and is quite gorgeously written. Perhaps it is just tiring to read in its entirety quite quickly, as I have done.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews