Publisher's Synopsis
The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems is a collection of works by the English poet Alexander Pope. The titular poem, The Rape of the Lock, is a mock-heroic epic that satirizes the frivolous social customs of the wealthy elite of 18th century England. The poem tells the story of a young woman named Belinda, whose lock of hair is stolen by a suitor during a card game, leading to a comical feud between the two families. In addition to The Rape of the Lock, the collection includes other notable works by Pope, such as Eloisa to Abelard, an epistolary poem about the tragic love affair between the philosopher Peter Abelard and his student Heloise, and An Essay on Criticism, a didactic poem that outlines Pope's views on literary criticism and the nature of poetry. Throughout the collection, Pope employs his signature wit, satire, and keen observations of human nature to comment on a wide range of topics, from love and sexuality to politics and religion. The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems remains a classic of English literature and a testament to Pope's enduring influence on the poetic tradition.Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish'd care Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air! If e'er one vision touch.'d thy infant thought, Of all the Nurse and all the Priest have taught.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
