The Works of John Dryden, Volume VII: Poems, 1697-1700 (Works of John Dryden) (Hardcover)

~ John Dryden (Author), Vinton A. Dearing (Editor)

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Product Description

Dryden's last three years of published works begin with Alexander's Feast and end with Fables, his largest miscellany of poetical translations. Alexander's Feast, like the earlier Song for St. Cecilia's Day (Works, III), was commissioned by the Musical Society for performance at its annual tribute to sacred music. The Fables included selections from Homer, Ovid, Boccaccio, and Chaucer. Extensive and detailed notes to these translations show readers how well Dryden succeeded in transmitting the styles and the very sounds of his originals. Volume VII ends with a section of miscellaneous pieces published at other times, including Dryden's only known Latin work. The presentation of the writings in this volume, like that of the entire twenty-volume series, is a tribute not only to Dryden but also to the editors who have guided it through five decades.

About the Author

Vinton A. Dearing, editor of the California Dryden edition, is Professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1001 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520021231
• ISBN-13: 978-0520021235
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,359,042 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction to Dryden, May 18, 2006

By	K. Michael Derby "College administrator and ... (Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Works of John Dryden (Wordsworth Poetry Library) (Paperback)

When I was a child, I was a fan of a series of books that offered portable versions of the great works of the leading poets. One can imagine "The Portable Keats" or "The Portable Browning." One can not imagine "The Portable Dryden." That would be like "The Portable Thomas Wolfe." Some writers simply can not be captured in a small cage.

The Wordsworth edition serves as an excellent start to Dryden, covering his political poems, his plays and his translations. While one could argue that some plays were left out of the anthology and should have been included, the basics are there. When finished, the reader can claim to know Dryden's work fairly well.

Two minor quibbles. The text is small and hard to read. I often had to resort to using a magnifying glass. The introduction, while solid, was not exactly satisfying. Dryden's reputation has continued to ebb over the decades (despite the best efforts of say T.S. Eliot or Samuel Johnson or Mark van Doren) and there remains much that is obscure in his life and his work. Footnotes or endnotes would have been appreciated. Still, this book remains the place to start to understand and appreciate this forgotten poet.