Books in Oxford Standard Authors series

Alexander Pope has often been termed the first truly professional poet in English. He had an acute awareness of traditions he had inherited and a clear vision of where he stood in literary history. In this representative selection of Pope's most important work Pat Rogers presents all the major poems and a characteristic sample of his prose, including satires, pamphlets, and periodical writing. Pope's criticism is represented by his preface to his edition of Shakespeare, and the personal side of his work is illustrated by short pasages from his conversations with Joseph Spence and examples of his wide-ranging correspondence. "Peri Bathous" is presented here in full, as well as the 1743 version of the "Dunciad". Some translations are also included. A feature of this volume is that the texts are presented in chronological order so that the "Moral Essays" and the "Imitations of Horace" are restored to their original position in Pope's career.

This edition presents the most comprehensive selection of Byron's poetry and prose ever collected in a single volume. The poetry section includes the complete texts of his masterpieces, "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" and "Don Juan," as well as representative examples of his satires, tales, plays and short poems. Among the selected prose entries are letters, journal excerpts, essays, and other formal prose. These texts are, in every case, based on the most recent and authoritative editorial work, and incorporate many corrections to both poetry and prose. Byron offers readers the unique opportunity to appreciate the dual literary achievment of one of the romantic period's most flamboyant and most influential artists.

Often termed the first truly professional poet in England, Pope had an acute awareness of the traditions he inherited and a clear vision of where he stood in literary history. In this representative selection of Pope's most important work, Pat Rogers presents all the major poems and a characteristic sample of his prose, including satires, pamphlets, and periodical writing. Pope's criticism is represented by the influential preface to his edition of Shakespeare, and the personal side of his work is illustrated by his wide-ranging correspondence and short passages from his conversations with Joseph Spence. With a fine introduction, substantial annotation, and full biographical appendix, this volume presents texts chronologically, setting them properly within Pope's career.

This edition presents the most comprehensive selection of Byron's poetry and prose ever collected in a single volume. The poetry section includes the complete texts of his masterpieces, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan, as well as representative examples of his satires, tales, plays, and short poems. Among the selected prose entries are letters, journal excerpts, essays, and other formal prose. These texts are, in every case, based on the most recent and authoritative editorial work, and incorporate many corrections to both poetry and prose. Byron offers readers the unique opportunity to appreciate the dual literary achievement of one of the romantic period's most flamboyant and most influential artists.

Though the drama of Oscar Wilde's life has for many years obscured the artistry of his work, recent critical and biographical studies have generated renewed interest in his writings and created a demand for a new, up-to-date scholarly anthology. This fully annotated volume, the latest in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series, is the first comprehensive edition of Wilde to provide the information necessary to appreciate the wealth of knowledge and allusion upon which his writing stands. In addition to his most famous works--The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lady Windermere's Fan, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Critic as Artist, and The Ballad of Reading Gaol--this edition includes a wealth of other fiction, drama, critical dialogues, and poems. Like the other Oxford Authors titles, this edition includes a critical introduction, a chronology, and suggestions for further reading.

Though the drama of Oscar Wilde's life has for many years obscured the artistry of his work, recent critical and biographical studies have generated renewed interest in his writings and created a demand for a new, up-to-date scholarly anthology. This fully annotated volume, the latest in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series, is the first comprehensive edition of Wilde to provide the information necessary to appreciate the wealth of knowledge and allusion upon which his writing stands. In addition to his most famous works--The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lady Windermere's Fan, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Critic as Artist, and The Ballad of Reading Gaol--this edition includes a wealth of other fiction, drama, critical dialogues, and poems. Like the other Oxford Authors titles, this edition includes a critical introduction, a chronology, and suggestions for further reading.