Subject
Literary forgeries and mystifications -- History -- 18th century Books
Best books
Rudolf Tombo
Ossian in Germany Bibliography, General Survey, Ossian's Influence upon Klopstock and the Bards
"Ossian in Germany" by Rudolf Tombo is a scholarly work written in the mid-20th century. The book explores the influence of Ossian's poetry in Germany, focusing particularly on the reception of his works among notable German authors, including Klopstock and the Bards. It serves as a bibliographic guide while also surveying the broader cultural and literary impact of Ossian's writings in German literature. The opening of the book outlines the author's initial approach to examining Ossian's influence, which evolved into a more comprehensive bibliographic endeavor than originally anticipated. It describes the challenges encountered in gathering material, leading to the creation of a chronological bibliography of German Ossianiana, which is intended to provide a structured overview along with discussions of Ossian's impact on prominent German literary figures. Tombo acknowledges the support of various professors and librarians in compiling this extensive bibliographic reference.
Edmond Malone
Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to Thomas Rowley (1782)
"Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to Thomas Rowley" by Edmond Malone is a critical analysis written in the late 18th century. The work discusses the authenticity of poems that were claimed to be written by the 15th-century priest Thomas Rowley but were actually fabricated by the poet Thomas Chatterton. Through rigorous examination and argumentation, Malone aims to refute the claims supporting the poems' authenticity and challenges their scholarly defenders. The opening of the text sets the stage for the Rowley controversy, revealing the tension surrounding the debate about the poems' legitimacy. Malone outlines previous arguments made by Rowley supporters and acknowledges the growing significance of this literary dispute as it gained public attention during the late 18th century. He establishes the groundwork for his critique by stating that a competent judge of the poems must possess a critical understanding of English poetry. He then introduces his points of contention, including the smoothness of the verse and modern phrases present in the poems, presenting them as significant evidence against their claimed antiquity.
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