ABSTRACT

Having previously suffered neglect as a result of Pope's dominance of the period, William Cowper (1731-1800) has now become a far more important figure in eighteenth-century literature. Following the successful format of the series, Professor Sambrook's edition consists of a comprehensive, contextual editor's introduction together with substantial annotation on the page. The Task (1785) is the principal text discussed together with a selection of Cowper's other poems which cover a wide range of his subjects, moods and styles.

chapter 1|2 pages

Early life and writings

chapter 2|4 pages

Madness, salvation, and Mary Unwin

chapter 3|2 pages

John Newton and Olney Hymns

chapter 4|2 pages

Madness and reprobation

chapter 5|4 pages

Recovery: occasional poems and letters

chapter 6|5 pages

Moral satires

chapter 7|4 pages

Lady Austen and light verse

chapter 8|3 pages

The Task: a poem of composite order

chapter 9|4 pages

The Task: idyllium and geortric

chapter 10|3 pages

The Task: philosophical satire

chapter 11|4 pages

The Task: baptized philosophy

chapter 12|5 pages

Lady Hesketh and the Homer translation

chapter 13|3 pages

Last years

chapter 14|9 pages

Cowper's place