Lives of the English Poets : Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope

by Samuel Johnson

"Lives of the English Poets: Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope" by Samuel Johnson is a biographical and critical work published between 1779-81. This volume presents Johnson's assessments of four poets, part of his larger collection examining 52 English poets. Johnson combines biographical narrative with character sketches and critical evaluations of their major works. Originally commissioned by London publishers to compete with Scottish editions, these prefaces grew beyond their intended scope, revealing Johnson's sharp judgments and occasional prejudices that sparked immediate debate among his contemporaries.