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The Major Works
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.
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.
768 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1751
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About the author
Alexander Pope
2,247 books692 followersPeople best remember
The Rape of the Lock
(1712) and
The Dunciad
(1728), satirical mock-epic poems of English writer Alexander Pope.
Ariel, a sylph, guards the heroine of The Rape of the Lock of Alexander Pope.
People generally regard Pope as the greatest of the 18th century and know his verse and his translation of Homer. After William Shakespeare and Alfred Tennyson, he ranks as third most frequently quoted in the language. Pope mastered the heroic couplet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...
Ariel, a sylph, guards the heroine of The Rape of the Lock of Alexander Pope.
People generally regard Pope as the greatest of the 18th century and know his verse and his translation of Homer. After William Shakespeare and Alfred Tennyson, he ranks as third most frequently quoted in the language. Pope mastered the heroic couplet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 10, 2013
There's still no one who's really managed to improve on Pope. For example:
Now Wits gain praise by copying other WitsIt's amazing how often I think of that couplet. Maybe I shouldn't spend so much time on Goodreads.
As one Hog lives on what another shits.
October 13, 2013
Who am I to criticize an author who, according to the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations is the third most quoted figure in human history (after Shakespeare and Tennyson)? Who am I but an unappreciative boor? Well, I’m a generally educated reader who invested several weeks of reading time to explore the man and his writing—no more, no less. Judge the merit of my comments for yourself, keeping in mind a rule that I apply to others so must apply to myself here: when you choose to emphasize the negative in another person (particularly if you focus on the person rather than a particular act or product) it reflects more on you than on the person you’re criticizing. Yes, I confess: this review is more a reflection on me and certain aspects of my personality than it is about the literature being reviewed.
I had managed to unhappily wade through this 737 page small print tome until I started trying to read the last included work: The Dunciad, which is a satire (I think), and is, more to the point, Pope’s attempt to settle the score with every critic and foe he ever encountered. What a sad, pathetic subject for a crowning life work! What a sorry personality he must have been to have chosen such a motive to drive him. I literally could not read more. There is a class of people who I can’t stand, and he’s a prime example of them — people who seek to entangle themselves with others (get in other people’s faces) as if for the purpose of giving their empty lives some desperate sense of meaning. They see no more pressing purpose to life than to derive energy from the process of bickering and quibbling—the ebb and flow of ‘reputation’ and ‘appearance’, of ‘status’ and ‘opinion’. This is so alien to my own sensibilities that I simply had to put the book on the shelf without finishing it.
Frankly, it’s the first book I ever wanted to burn. I felt like ripping the offending pages out, spitting on them, trampling them under foot, and eviscerating each printed word. Pope attracted me because of a few selected quotes that have become immortal. The quotes are fine, fantastic in fact (and I’ll continue to use them). But that’s only because they’re taken out of context. The mind that produced them is undeserving. I can only imagine that the world in which he lived was so lacking in true talent that his lack of a more useful talent and his ability to find favor in high places vaulted him into that vacuum. And in 54 years of life he managed to accidentally vomit out a few memorable phrases amid volumes of tripe. A monkey at a keyboard could scarcely do worse.
No, I’m being terribly melodramatic. It’s my anger at the Dunciad that is driving this. I did enjoy a few selected works—when he chose subjects of a bit more substance (still perilously abstract for modern tastes). I enjoyed his lyrical rendering of a comparison of virtue and vice in his ‘Epilogue to the Satires: Dialogue 1’ (page 399). But really—to wade through 737 pages to find a few pages worth reading?
I had managed to unhappily wade through this 737 page small print tome until I started trying to read the last included work: The Dunciad, which is a satire (I think), and is, more to the point, Pope’s attempt to settle the score with every critic and foe he ever encountered. What a sad, pathetic subject for a crowning life work! What a sorry personality he must have been to have chosen such a motive to drive him. I literally could not read more. There is a class of people who I can’t stand, and he’s a prime example of them — people who seek to entangle themselves with others (get in other people’s faces) as if for the purpose of giving their empty lives some desperate sense of meaning. They see no more pressing purpose to life than to derive energy from the process of bickering and quibbling—the ebb and flow of ‘reputation’ and ‘appearance’, of ‘status’ and ‘opinion’. This is so alien to my own sensibilities that I simply had to put the book on the shelf without finishing it.
Frankly, it’s the first book I ever wanted to burn. I felt like ripping the offending pages out, spitting on them, trampling them under foot, and eviscerating each printed word. Pope attracted me because of a few selected quotes that have become immortal. The quotes are fine, fantastic in fact (and I’ll continue to use them). But that’s only because they’re taken out of context. The mind that produced them is undeserving. I can only imagine that the world in which he lived was so lacking in true talent that his lack of a more useful talent and his ability to find favor in high places vaulted him into that vacuum. And in 54 years of life he managed to accidentally vomit out a few memorable phrases amid volumes of tripe. A monkey at a keyboard could scarcely do worse.
No, I’m being terribly melodramatic. It’s my anger at the Dunciad that is driving this. I did enjoy a few selected works—when he chose subjects of a bit more substance (still perilously abstract for modern tastes). I enjoyed his lyrical rendering of a comparison of virtue and vice in his ‘Epilogue to the Satires: Dialogue 1’ (page 399). But really—to wade through 737 pages to find a few pages worth reading?
July 29, 2021
Difficult not to take him as an exemplary of Emerson's critique of the englishman philosophy, that they can conceive nothing other than basic Platonism & that even is strained by needless pedantry/systemization - to be compared with Goethe's comment on englishmen re: Lord Byron, that the English are very practical people. Pope developed from youth, his famous Essay on Criticism is the work of an 18 year old. His first twenty years of work proceed in this neoclassical vein, epics&faux-epics of increasing intricacy&efficacy - & recapitulated in the circuit-closing Peri Bathous.
His late period is the more provocative & interesting, & the most exemplary of the aforementioned angloisms; so he begins in the 'Moral Essays' with sharp Juvenalisms whereby he synthesizes a number of interests into his most refined verse, and creates some of his most dynamic, living verse. But as soon as he got whiff of profit in that direction something in him snapped awake & he proceeded to systematize his common sense ideals (of tenuous value) into a quasi-spinozan system, and proceeded then on an expansive project to repeat these ideals in masked form. Such are his 'Horacian Imitations', mis-translations of the roman satires with the names of scandaled politicians of his age. Watching his works decay into confused&cloudy lists of dull accusations, as his poetic skills deteriorated and lost their latinate snap, is a slow train-wreck for this four-foot-six anglo-saxon Catholic.
Not to detract him; of course, a select number of his early neoclassicisms coupled with the more cutting monologues of the later years, together with the three books of the Dunciad written before his decline, would produce a sublime volume that would place him in league with the Milton behind him, the Sterne alongside him, and the Browning to come. I'm not sure I would recommend reading this particularly voluminous volume, though.
His late period is the more provocative & interesting, & the most exemplary of the aforementioned angloisms; so he begins in the 'Moral Essays' with sharp Juvenalisms whereby he synthesizes a number of interests into his most refined verse, and creates some of his most dynamic, living verse. But as soon as he got whiff of profit in that direction something in him snapped awake & he proceeded to systematize his common sense ideals (of tenuous value) into a quasi-spinozan system, and proceeded then on an expansive project to repeat these ideals in masked form. Such are his 'Horacian Imitations', mis-translations of the roman satires with the names of scandaled politicians of his age. Watching his works decay into confused&cloudy lists of dull accusations, as his poetic skills deteriorated and lost their latinate snap, is a slow train-wreck for this four-foot-six anglo-saxon Catholic.
Not to detract him; of course, a select number of his early neoclassicisms coupled with the more cutting monologues of the later years, together with the three books of the Dunciad written before his decline, would produce a sublime volume that would place him in league with the Milton behind him, the Sterne alongside him, and the Browning to come. I'm not sure I would recommend reading this particularly voluminous volume, though.
February 19, 2022
From this collection I read An Essay on Criticism, The Rape of the Lock, Epistle to Burlington, and the Dunciad (in 4 parts). Honestly I gotta say this was not my cup of tea. I read this for my major authors of the 18th century course — which is the last English requirement I need and have been pushing off until now because aside from Jonathan swift, there’s not that much that interests me oof.
I did, much to my surprise, really enjoy learning about what we did read. The dunciad is craaaazzzzzyyyy and I like all the connections to classical epics.
I did, much to my surprise, really enjoy learning about what we did read. The dunciad is craaaazzzzzyyyy and I like all the connections to classical epics.
February 21, 2016
Pope was one of the Enlightenment's geniuses. Few poets since have rivalled him for accuracy and sense.
A few of his phrases that have entered the English idiom:
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"
"Damn with faint praise"
"A little learning is a dangerous thing"
A few of his phrases that have entered the English idiom:
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"
"Damn with faint praise"
"A little learning is a dangerous thing"
February 17, 2020
I read a few poems from this selection for university. however, I can't say that they have made me fall in love with Pope's work. He is, indeed, technically very impressive but some of his points are jarring.
1. Rape of the Lock: An interesting if somewhat convoluted poem with an intriguing story to tell. There is a message about how vanity may affect us. Pope, however, holds a misogynistic view of women suggesting them to be lesser than men and a man's property or 'prize'.
2. Earl of Burlington: I found this poem to be irritating. /an expression of Pope's belief that he holds the moral high ground. Praise of nature that degrades those who find beauty in any other element of life.
3. An Epistle to a Lady: Pope appears to be fixated on putting women down and judging them for how they present themselves. There is no correct option offered by Pope, thus he condemns women to always do wrong in his eyes.
1. Rape of the Lock: An interesting if somewhat convoluted poem with an intriguing story to tell. There is a message about how vanity may affect us. Pope, however, holds a misogynistic view of women suggesting them to be lesser than men and a man's property or 'prize'.
2. Earl of Burlington: I found this poem to be irritating. /an expression of Pope's belief that he holds the moral high ground. Praise of nature that degrades those who find beauty in any other element of life.
3. An Epistle to a Lady: Pope appears to be fixated on putting women down and judging them for how they present themselves. There is no correct option offered by Pope, thus he condemns women to always do wrong in his eyes.
February 12, 2022
Another academic read and not a fan of this book, mostly because I barely paid attention to it and only thoroughly read a few texts in class, while the rest was skimmed. I had to read this for the same course that I read the other 'Major Works' collection in, with the same teacher who loves to endlessly ramble.
Although Alexander Pope takes a more comedic and satirical approach to his essays and poems (sometimes), he was still a bore to read, in my opinion. The satire in some of his essays were interesting to read, but the poems were atrociously dull. His perspective on a few topics were interesting and, in some cases, jarring.
Personally, I am not recommending this to anyone because it felt like it was sucking the soul out of me. But I am glad I finally made it through this book.
Although Alexander Pope takes a more comedic and satirical approach to his essays and poems (sometimes), he was still a bore to read, in my opinion. The satire in some of his essays were interesting to read, but the poems were atrociously dull. His perspective on a few topics were interesting and, in some cases, jarring.
Personally, I am not recommending this to anyone because it felt like it was sucking the soul out of me. But I am glad I finally made it through this book.
February 7, 2020
Rape of the Lock: An interesting, strange story, but with lots of different possible meanings which I look forward to dissecting later on. A bit misogynistic.
Earl of Burlington: quite relevant to modern views as he praises the beauty of nature over the man-made, however still filled with misogyny.
Epistle to a Lady: ugh. We get it. He doesn't like women. Basically Swift's Dressing Room, but goes a little deeper.
Earl of Burlington: quite relevant to modern views as he praises the beauty of nature over the man-made, however still filled with misogyny.
Epistle to a Lady: ugh. We get it. He doesn't like women. Basically Swift's Dressing Room, but goes a little deeper.
February 9, 2018
Good. Especially appreciated his longer, more philosophical poems like his essay on man and essay on criticism.
April 3, 2018
Beautiful poetry, interesting letters.
May 6, 2024
Wasn't my kind of poetry, I didn't take to a lot of it. Highlights ~ "Pastorals" "An Essay on Criticism" "Sappho to Phaon" and "Windsor Forest".
Read
October 10, 2025peri bathos;
an essay on criticism;
a full and true account of a horrid and barbarous revenge by poison;
an essay on criticism;
a full and true account of a horrid and barbarous revenge by poison;
July 17, 2015
Comprehensive selection, and the biographical sketches are a nice touch. The paperback's quality is a bit rubbish though - the spine creases and curves with the slightest bit of pressure.
'The Rape of the Lock' is a good starting-point for newcomers to Augustan satire. It is quite comical, and those who dislike the rage of Swift's Juvenalian work might find refuge in the urbane language of Pope.
'The Rape of the Lock' is a good starting-point for newcomers to Augustan satire. It is quite comical, and those who dislike the rage of Swift's Juvenalian work might find refuge in the urbane language of Pope.
Want to read
July 25, 2022Pope has always been a finicky poet, one who you can love or hate for his interest in satire and heroic couplets.
"The Rape of the Lock" is an excellent work by Pope, though, and it rightfully has its place at the apex of his oeuvre. It's exactly what it sounds like: the mock epic charts the "rape" of one of Belinda's locks of hair. Pope wrote this because there were squabbles between 2 families he knew, and he was satirizing the feud.
"The Rape of the Lock" is an excellent work by Pope, though, and it rightfully has its place at the apex of his oeuvre. It's exactly what it sounds like: the mock epic charts the "rape" of one of Belinda's locks of hair. Pope wrote this because there were squabbles between 2 families he knew, and he was satirizing the feud.
October 11, 2008
Thoroughly enjoyable.
May 25, 2017
Pope peak smarmy, to get a balance of smarmy with something interesting see Horatian satires & Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot. Yes, objectively better than Swift but not as cool.
April 13, 2015
Read Dunciad, Rape of the Lock, and Essay on Criticism
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews