The Life of the Author: Alexander Pope

Offers a reader-friendly guide to reading, understanding, and appreciating Pope today Alexander Pope’s words echo across centuries, woven into the fabric of everyday English.Phrases such as “to err is human” and “hope springs eternal” have long since left the pages of his poetry to become part of common speech.But behind these familiar lines was a writer whose sharp wit, mastery of form, and satirical brilliance secured his fame while also earning him powerful enemies.The Life of the Author: Alexander Pope provides an accessible yet rigorous introduction to one of the most quoted poets in the English language.By situating Pope within the cultural and political turbulence of the eighteenth century, author Glynis Ridley illuminates the ways Pope's life and writings continually intersected, shaping both his reputation and his enduring influence.Drawing upon Pope’s poetry, prose, and correspondence, this concise volume reveals a man who was both celebrated and scorned, independent and emba