Synopses & Reviews
Richard Savage was a minor eighteenth-century poet, known chiefly today for his associations with Pope and Johnson, whose Life of Savage is a masterpiece. But his poetry is not merely valuable for the light it throws on Johnson and the tastes of the first half of the eighteenth century. It gives a clear picture of Savage's own somewhat sensational character and career, and is far more readable in its own right than has been suggested in the past. It epitomizes all the varying poetical styles of the time, but is much more personal and autobiographical than most Augustan verse. This definitive edition of Savage's poetry was the first to appear since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and earlier editions were neither complete nor reliable. Professor Tracy is the recognized expert on Savage and in his introduction he gives a clear account of Savage's reputation during his lifetime, and suggests why he should be given more recognition.
Synopsis
Professor Tracy, the recognised expert on Savage, examines the life and works of this undervalued poet.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Introduction; The Poems: 1. Jacobite Poems; 2. The Convocation; 3. A Poem on the Memory of Mr Keene; 4. An Epistle to Mrs Oldfield; 5. To Mrs Eliz. Haywood; 6. An Apology to Brillante; 7. To the Right Honourable Bessy Countess of Rochford; 8. Versus sent to Aaron Hill, Esq; 9. Prologue to King Henry the VIth; 10. To Mrs Eliza Haywood; 11. To Mr Herbert Tryst; 12. To a Young Gentleman, a Painter; 13. The Picture; 14. The Friend [First Version]; 15. Verses on Gideon; 16. To the Excellent Miranda; 17. A Poem on the Recovery of her Grace the Dutchess of Rutland from the Small-Pox; 18. The Authors of the Town; 19. The Animalcule; 20. Unconstant; 21. The Gentleman; 22. A Poem sacred to King George; 23. The Bastard; 24. Fulvia; 25. A Grace after Dinner; 26. The Wanderer; 27. Epitaph on a Young Lady; 28. The Triumph of Health and Mirth; 29. A Poem to the Memory of Mrs Oldfield; 30. Volunteer Laureat, No. 1; 31. Religion and Liberty; 32. Volunteer Laureat, No. 2; 33. Epigram on John Dennis; 34. [Volunteer Laureat, No. 3]; 35. The Genius of Liberty; 36. Verses on the Vice-principal of St Mary Hall; 37. Character of the Rev. James Foster; 38. The Progress of a Divine; 39. Volunteer Laureat, No. 4; 40. Volunteer Laureat, No. 5; 41. To Miss M. H.; 42. An Epistle to Damon and Delia; 43. A Poet's Dependance on a Statesman; 44. The Friend [Second Version]; 45. Volunteer Laureat, No. 6; 46. Of Public Spirit in Regard to Public Works; 47. Volunteer Laureat, No. 7; 48. E Gr'co Ruf.; 49. On False Historians; 50. A Character; 51. Epitaph on Mrs Jones; 52. The Employment of Beauty; 53. Verses sent to Mrs Bridget Jones; 54. Valentine's Day; 55. To John Powell, Esq; 56. London and Bristol Delineated; Appendix: Dedication and preface to miscellaneous poems and translations; Index.