Eighteenth Century Poets
THOMAS BLACKWELL (1701-1757)
An enquiry into the life and writings of Homer
London: [publisher not identified] MDCCXXXV [1735]
Given the vogue of translating or imitating the Greeks and Romans, ancient poets were also the subjects of biographical inquiry, as evidenced by Thomas Blackwell’s study of Homer. A major figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, Blackwell was regarded as the leading classical scholar of his day.
THEOPHILUS CIBBER (1703-1758)
The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland: to the time of Dean Swift compiled from ample materials scattered in a variety of books, and especially from the ms. notes of the late ingenious Mr. Coxeter and others, collected for this design by Mr. Cibber ; in four volumes.
London: R. Griffiths, at the Dunciad in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1753
Compiled mainly by Robert Shiells with revisions and additions by Theophilus Cibber. Cf. DNB.
The first edition, extensively-extra illustrated, of The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland. Although predominantly compiled by Robert Shiells (d. 1753), with additions and revisions by actor and playwright Theophilus Cibber (1703- 1758), it is generally known as ‘Cibber’s Poets’. An amanuensis of Samuel Johnson on his Dictionary, Sheills was, on completion of that work in 1752, engaged by publisher Ralph Griffiths to compile the present work; the claim to authorship of which would be hotly contested between him and Cibber, who had been commissioned as editor. Cibber’s name alone appears on the title page of the first volume, the later volumes generously allow ‘and other hands’. Sheills, justifiably piqued, found support in Johnson who attributed the whole credit of the work to him, despite the fact that the work was largely based on Langbaine and Jacobs, with the aid of Coxeter’s notes, and does not contain much original material. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “There is perhaps no contemporary reference to Cibber that does not set him down as a scoundrel. He traded dishonestly on his father’s name and engaged in blackmail, in shameless plagiarism, and in scandalous lawsuits to obtain money.”
THOMAS PERCY (1729-1811)
Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads, songs, and other pieces of our earlier poets, (chiefly of the lyric kind.) Together with some few of later date
London: J. Dodsley, 1765
An Anglican clergyman (and Bishop of Dromore from 1782), Percy had multiple intellectual interests but is best known for his Reliques, a three-volume gathering of traditional ballads. The first edition is displayed here, and it remained popular for over a century.
In 1711, Joseph Addison wrote in The Spectator:
The old song of “Chevy-Chase” is the favourite ballad of the common people of England, and Ben Jonson used to say he had rather have been the author of it than of all his works. Sir Philip Sidney, in his discourse of Poetry, speaks of it in the following words: “I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas that I found not my heart more moved than with a trumpet; and yet it is sung by some blind crowder with no rougher voice than rude style ….
THOMAS OTWAY (1652-1685)
The works of Mr. Thomas Otway ... consisting of his plays, poems, and letters
London: C.Bathurst ... MDCCLXVIII [1768]
From the collection of Stanley Marcus. Gift of Linda Marcus, 2003.
MARY MASTERS (1694?-1759?)
Poems
In: Poems by the most eminent ladies of Great-Britain and Ireland ... : selected, with an account of the writers
London: Printed for T. Becket and Co. and T. Evans, at No. 50, near York-Buildings, Strand, MCCLXXIII [1773]
From humble origins and with minimal education, Mary Masters published two volumes of poetry, both of which were noticed favorably by Dr. Johnson.
ANDREW KIPPIS (1725-1795)
Biographia britannica; or, The lives of the most eminent persons who have flourished in Great Britain and Ireland, from the earliest ages, down to the present times collected from the best authorities, printed and manuscript, and digested in the manner of Mr. Bayle’s Historical and critical dictionary. The 2d ed., with corrections, enlargements, and the addition of new lives: by Andrew Kippis, with the assistance of other gentlemen.
London: Printed by W. and A. Strahan, for C. Bathurst, W. Strahan [etc.] 1778-93
Only 5 volumes published ... the dictionary ends abruptly with the article “Fastolff”. Vols. 2-5 include corrigenda and addenda to all previous volumes.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1730?-1774)
Poems and plays by Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. To which is prefixed, the life of the author. A new edition, corrected
Dublin: Printed for Messrs. Price, Sleater, W. Watson, Whitestone, Chamberlaine … MDCCLXXXV [1785]
From the James Phillips collection.
JANET LITTLE (1759-1813)
The poetical works of Janet Little, the Scotch milkmaid.
Air: Printed by John & Peter Wilson, M,DCC,XCII [1792]
The only book by Little, a “rustic poetess” who ran a dairy and worked as a housemaid. One of her employers, Frances Dunlap, was sympathetic with her literary inclinations and gave Janet Little an introduction to Robert Burns, who helped with the subscription of this volume. Little had asked James Boswell, who is a subscriber, to allow her to dedicate the volume to him, but he declined.
CATHERINE REBECCA MANNERS (1766 OR 1767-1852)
Poems by Lady Manners
London: Printed by John Bell, British-Library, Strand, bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 1793
CATHERINE REBECCA MANNERS (1766 or 1767-1852)
Review of poetry, ancient and modern: a poem by Lady M*****
London: Printed for J. Booth, 1799
PHILLIS WHEATLEY (1753-1784)
Poems on various subjects, religious and moral by Phillis Wheatley, Negro servant to Mr. John Wheatley, of Boston, in New-England
Walpole, N.H.: Printed for Thomas & Thomas, by David Newhall, 1802
First published in London in 1773, Wheatley’s Poems was reprinted in 1783. American editions appeared in Philadelphia (1786, 1787, 1789, 1801), Albany (1793), and here in Walpole, N.H. Enslaved by Boston merchant John Wheatley, who encouraged her talent, Wheatley is acknowledged today as the first African American female poet.
VINCENT CARRETTA
Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a genius in bondage
Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2011
THOMAS GRAY (1716-1771)
The poems and letters of Thomas Gray: with memoirs of his life and writings
London: Printed by J.F. Dove, St. John’s Square, for R. Priestley, High Holborn, and W. Clarke, New Bond Street, 1820
Edited by William Mason (1725-1797), who provides the biographical essay. Gray is best known for his Elegy Written in a Country Church-Yard (1751), which became extremely popular and ushered in the “graveyard school” of English poetry.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1730?-1774)
The miscellaneous works of Oliver Goldsmith: with an account of his life and writings. Stereotyped from the Paris edition, edited by Washington Irving; complete in one volume.
Philadelphia: J. Crissy and J. Grigg, 1830
WILLIAM HAYLEY (1745-1820)
The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper, Esq.
New York: Printed and sold by T. and J. Swords, no. 160 Pearl-street, 1803.
Cowper (1731-1800) was beset by melancholia all his life. His poetry, especially The Task (1785) attracted a wide audience, as did his hymns and other religious verses. William Hayley was a close friend.
Part of the Elijah Shettles collection.