1817 The Works Of the Late William Cowper, Esq. Of the Inner Temple.

Description

Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding, Scarce

Volumes I, II contains Cowper's poetry, including 'Lines Addressed to Dr. Darwin', 'Ode to Apollo', 'The Faithful Bird' and his most substantial work, 'The Tas'k, a work in six books. Volume III contains his lesser known posthumous poetry, such as, 'On a Thief', 'The Four Ages' and 'Anecdote of Homer'. A sketch of the author's life is also in Volume III, detailing his family environment, education and his battle with mental illness. Cowper attempted to commit suicide three times in 1763 and was diagnosed with insanity in 1773. Cowper's letters are printed in volumes IV, V and VI beginning in 1763 and finishing in 1798, two years before his death. The correspondence includes that to Lady Hesketh, Joseph Hill, Mrs. Cowper, Rev. J. Newton, Rev. W. Unwin who's wife he later married, Rev. W. Bull, Lady Austen, Lord Thurlow and J. Johnston, who published much of his work. The final four volumes consist of Homer's 'The Odyssey' and 'The Iliad' translated in blank verse with copious alterations and notes by William Cowper. These translations were considered the most significant English renderings of the epic poems since Alexander Pope. Frontispiece portraits of Cowper and Homer in Volume I and VII.