Narrative Summary of The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume IV

Overview: This text is a collection of biographical sketches of British and Irish poets from the 18th century. It delves into their lives, detailing their backgrounds, education, social circles, and political affiliations. The author provides insights into their literary works, analyzing their styles, themes, and impact on the literary landscape of their time. While focusing on the poets’ lives, it also touches upon the historical and societal context of the era, offering a glimpse into the intellectual and cultural landscape of 18th-century Britain and Ireland.

Main parts:

Individual Biographies: Each chapter focuses on a single poet, presenting a chronological account of their life, including their family background, education, personal relationships, political leanings, and literary achievements.
Literary Analysis: The text provides a concise analysis of each poet’s works, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, identifying their most significant works, and placing them within the context of contemporary literary trends.
Social Commentary: The author often weaves in social commentary, offering insights into the political and cultural climate of the time, and highlighting the poets’ relationships with power, patronage, and their involvement in the intellectual debates of their era.

View on Life:

The Power of Patronage: The text reveals the pervasive influence of patronage in the 18th-century literary world, showcasing how poets relied on wealthy patrons for financial support and social advancement. This reliance often shaped their creative output and political allegiances.
The Importance of Social Connections: The text emphasizes the significance of social networks and friendships within the literary circles. The poets’ relationships with fellow writers, patrons, and influential figures significantly impacted their careers and shaped their views.
The Tension between Art and Politics: The lives of these poets often entangled with political and social issues. The text reveals the complex relationships between artistic expression, political affiliation, and the pressures of patronage and societal expectations.

Scenarios:

The Pursuit of Patronage: Many poets are depicted seeking the favor of powerful patrons, navigating the complexities of courtly life, and adapting their work to please their benefactors. This highlights the economic and social realities of the time.
Literary Feuds and Rivalries: The text details the rivalries and clashes between poets, often driven by envy, competition for recognition, and political differences. This showcases the competitive nature of the literary world and the emotional stakes involved.
Social and Political Upheaval: The text explores the turbulent political landscape of the 18th century, including the Revolution, the rise and fall of political factions, and the impact of these events on the lives and careers of the poets.

Challenges:

Financial Hardship: Many poets faced financial struggles, grappling with poverty, debt, and the pressure to find patrons. The text highlights the precarious economic realities faced by artists in this era.
Political Intrigue and Persecution: Some poets found themselves entangled in political conflicts, facing persecution, imprisonment, and even exile due to their writings or affiliations. This showcases the dangers of expressing dissenting views during a time of political instability.
Literary Criticism and Rivalry: The text highlights the intense criticism and rivalry that poets faced from their contemporaries, both within the literary world and from the wider public.

Conflict:

Political Divisions: The text reflects the deep political divisions of the time, particularly between Whigs and Tories. These divisions fueled literary disputes, impacted the poets’ careers, and shaped their creative output.
Patronage vs. Artistic Integrity: The text explores the conflict between the need for patronage and the desire to maintain artistic integrity. The poets often had to balance their creative freedom with the demands of their patrons, sometimes leading to compromise or even censorship.
Personal Ambition vs. Social Expectations: The text reveals the challenges faced by poets as they navigated their personal ambition for artistic recognition and the expectations of society, particularly regarding their social status, political allegiance, and moral conduct.

Plot:

The Rise and Fall of Literary Reputation: The text narrates the rise and fall of literary reputations, showcasing how some poets gained rapid fame and then faced decline, while others achieved lasting recognition.
The Journey from Obscurity to Eminence: The text details the journeys of poets from relative obscurity to public acclaim, often highlighting the role of patronage, political connections, and literary talent in their success.
From Courtly Favor to Poverty and Exile: The text presents the dramatic reversals of fortune, including poets who experienced periods of affluence and then suffered financial hardship, social ostracism, or even exile.

Point of View:

The Author’s Perspective: The author presents a largely sympathetic and celebratory view of the poets, often highlighting their strengths, achievements, and contributions to literature. The text is written from a traditional biographical perspective, focusing on the poets’ lives and works.
The Poets’ Own Voices: The text includes extracts from the poets’ letters and writings, offering insights into their own perspectives, opinions, and experiences. These excerpts provide a more personal glimpse into their lives and their creative process.

How it’s Written:

Formal and Scholarly: The text employs a formal and scholarly tone, using a descriptive and analytical style. The author uses detailed language, quotations, and references to historical sources to support his analysis.
Emphasis on Moral Character: The text places a strong emphasis on the moral character of the poets, often commenting on their virtues, vices, and religious beliefs.
Example: “He had acquired reputation in the schools, both as a philosopher and polemic of extensive knowledge, and deep penetration, and went through all the courses with a proper regard to the dignity, and importance of each science.” This excerpt exemplifies the text’s formal tone and its focus on intellectual achievements.

Tone:

Appreciative and Reverential: The text conveys a sense of respect and admiration for the poets, celebrating their achievements and contributions to literature.
Critical and Analytical: The author also offers a critical assessment of the poets’ work, highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses, and placing them within the context of their time.
Humorous and Anecdotal: The text includes numerous anecdotes and humorous details about the poets’ lives, offering a more personal and engaging perspective.

Life choices:

Pursuing Literary Fame: Many poets made conscious choices to dedicate their lives to writing, foregoing more practical careers in pursuit of recognition and artistic fulfillment.
Seeking Patronage: The poets often made calculated decisions to seek out patrons, navigating the complexities of social and political hierarchies to gain financial support and advancement.
Political Affiliations: The poets frequently made conscious choices to align themselves with political factions, sometimes aligning their work with the ideologies of their patrons or their own beliefs.

Lessons:

The Importance of Patronage: The text offers a lesson on the historical importance of patronage in the arts, highlighting how it shaped the lives and careers of these poets.
The Complexities of Ambition: The text reveals the complexities of ambition, showcasing how it can both drive creativity and lead to downfall. The poets’ struggles with fame, recognition, and the pursuit of wealth offer lessons about the human condition.
The Power of Integrity: The text highlights the importance of integrity, showcasing how poets who maintained their principles, even when facing adversity, often earned respect and lasting recognition.

Characters:

Peter Motteaux: A French gentleman who became a successful trader and playwright in England. Known for his translation of Don Quixote and numerous plays.
Mrs. Manley: A prolific writer known for her controversial novel Atalantis, which satirized the Whig ministry. She faced persecution for her writing but ultimately achieved literary recognition.
Henry Needler: A poet and scholar who suffered from ill health and melancholia. His work reflected his piety and philosophical bent.
John Hughes: An accomplished poet, playwright, and essayist. Known for his contributions to the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, as well as his tragedies, including the Siege of Damascus.
Matthew Prior: A celebrated poet and diplomat. Renowned for his wit, elegance, and his philosophical poem, Solomon.
Mrs. Susanna Centlivre: A prolific playwright known for her witty and often scandalous comedies, including The Gamester and The Busy Body.
Dr. Nicholas Brady: A clergyman and poet known for his collaboration on the New Version of the Psalms and his translation of Virgil’s Aeneid.
George Stepney: A poet and diplomat who achieved success through the patronage of the earl of Halifax. His poetry was often praised for its elegance and polished style.
Major Richardson Pack: A soldier and poet who celebrated the duke of Argyle’s heroism and whose work reflected his adventurous spirit and military experiences.
Sir William Dawes: A clergyman and poet who became archbishop of York. His most famous work is Anatomy of Atheism, a poem defending the existence of God.
William Congreve: A renowned playwright and poet considered one of the masters of Restoration comedy. His most famous works include The Old Bachelor, Love for Love, and The Way of the World.
Sir John Vanbrugh: An architect, playwright, and poet who rose to fame for his witty comedies, including The Relapse and The Provok’d Wife.
Sir Richard Steele: A writer, playwright, and politician who co-founded the Tatler and Spectator. Known for his humorous essays and his poignant play, The Conscious Lovers.
Andrew Marvel: A poet, politician, and staunch defender of liberty. Renowned for his wit, his opposition to the court, and his influential political writings.
Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas (Corinna): A poet and writer known for her misfortunes and her literary work, including poems and letters.
Elijah Fenton: A poet and playwright known for his tragedy, Mariamne, and his elegant translations, particularly of Ovid’s Kisses.
Barton Booth: An acclaimed actor and poet who played a significant role in the development of English theater. Known for his powerful performances in tragedies.
Dr. George Sewel: A physician, poet, and translator who contributed to the Tatler and Spectator. Known for his tragedy, Sir Walter Raleigh.
Anthony Hammond: A politician and poet known for his miscellanies and his role as a patron of the arts.
The Revd. Mr. Lawrence Eusden: A poet who was appointed Poet Laureate. His work was often criticized for its lack of originality and his own claims to greatness.
The Revd. Mr. Lawrence Eachard: An historian and poet who also translated classical works. He is known for his General Ecclesiastical History and his translations of Terence and Plautus.
Mr. John Oldmixon: A historian, playwright, and poet known for his controversial writings, including his History of the Stuarts.
Leonard Welsted: A poet who faced criticism for his self-promotion and his supposed reliance on alcohol for inspiration. His work was often satirized by Pope in the Dunciad.
James More Smyth: A politician and poet known for his rivalry with Pope and his political writings.
Mr. John Dennis: A critic, playwright, and poet who fiercely defended English drama and attacked contemporary writers, including Pope.
G. Granville, L. Lansdowne: A nobleman, poet, and playwright who played a role in the political life of the time.
Mr. John Gay: A poet, playwright, and humorist known for his works, including The Shepherd’s Week, Trivia, and The Beggar’s Opera.
Philip Duke of Wharton: A nobleman, poet, and politician known for his brilliance, extravagance, and shifting political allegiances.
Colonel Codrington: A gentleman of wit and gallantry who made a significant contribution to the university of Oxford.
Edward Ward: A poet who imitated Hudibras and wrote political satires.
Sir Roger L’Estrange: A journalist, politician, and translator known for his political writings and his role as licenser of the press.
Mr. Edmund Smith: A poet, scholar, and playwright known for his tragedy, Phaedra and Hippolitus, and his unfinished work on Longinus.
Daniel De Foe: A prolific writer, journalist, and satirist. Known for his novel, Robinson Crusoe, and his political writings, including The True Born Englishman.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe: A poet and writer known for her devotional works and her tragedy, The History of Joseph.
The Revd. Dr. Thomas Yalden: A clergyman, poet, and scholar who faced persecution for his suspected Jacobite leanings.
Mr. Joseph Mitchel: A poet known for his work on social and political themes and his friendship with Aaron Hill.
Mr. John Ozell: A translator known for his translations of French, Spanish, and Italian plays, as well as his other works, including Don Quixote and Fenelon’s Reflexions on Learning.

Themes:

The Role of Patronage: The text highlights the pervasive influence of patronage on the lives and works of the poets, demonstrating how it shaped their creative output, their political allegiances, and their social standing.
The Nature of Genius: The text explores the complex nature of genius, showcasing how it can be both a blessing and a curse, leading to both acclaim and downfall. The poets’ struggles with ambition, recognition, and the pursuit of wealth offer insights into the human condition.
The Power of Integrity: The text celebrates the importance of moral integrity, demonstrating how poets who maintained their principles, even in the face of adversity, often gained respect and lasting recognition.
The Interplay of Art and Politics: The text explores the close relationship between art and politics in 18th-century Britain, highlighting how poets often used their writing to express their political views, engage in social commentary, and influence public opinion.

Principles:

The Importance of Virtue: The text emphasizes the importance of virtue and moral conduct, often celebrating poets who embodied these qualities and holding up their lives as examples to others.
The Value of True Patriotism: The text champions the ideals of true patriotism, showcasing poets who defended the rights and liberties of their country, even at personal cost.
The Pursuit of Knowledge: The text underscores the value of knowledge and learning, highlighting how the poets’ education, intellectual pursuits, and exposure to the works of classical authors shaped their thinking and creative output.
The Power of Artistic Expression: The text celebrates the transformative power of artistic expression, showcasing how the poets’ writings could inspire, provoke, and challenge societal norms.

Intentions of the characters in the text or the reader of the text:

Poets: The poets in the text sought fame, recognition, financial security, and often sought to use their writing to influence society or express their political views. Some sought to maintain their independence from patrons and power structures, while others sought to navigate those systems to achieve their goals.
Reader: The reader of this text seeks to understand the lives, works, and societal context of these 18th-century poets. They may be interested in gaining insight into the literary scene of the time, exploring the relationship between art and politics, or simply appreciating the individual stories of these fascinating figures.

Unique Vocabulary:

Amphibious: This word is used to describe the mixed origins of the English people, emphasizing the lack of a pure, homogenous lineage.
Cotemporary: This word emphasizes the shared time period of the poets discussed, highlighting the interconnectedness of their lives and works.
Gaimatias: A word used to describe nonsensical writing or speech. It is used to criticize the work of Eusden, highlighting the author’s perception of his writing.

Anecdotes:

The story of Mrs. Manley’s betrayal and subsequent struggles: This anecdote highlights the societal pressures faced by women in the 18th century and the dangers of vulnerability to betrayal and manipulation.
The story of Andrew Marvel’s refusal of patronage: This anecdote exemplifies the power of integrity and unwavering commitment to one’s principles, demonstrating Marvel’s staunch patriotism and resistance to corruption.
The story of the duke of Wharton’s extravagance and downfall: This anecdote illustrates the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and profligacy, showcasing how Wharton’s brilliance was ultimately eclipsed by his recklessness and lack of self-control.

Ideas:

The importance of individual merit over lineage: The text challenges the notion that social status or lineage guarantees success or value, arguing that true greatness arises from personal virtue, talent, and contribution.
The complexities of power and influence: The text explores the dynamics of power and influence, particularly the role of patronage, political factions, and the use of writing as a tool for shaping public opinion.
The significance of social and political context: The text underscores the significance of understanding the historical and societal context of these poets’ lives and works, highlighting how their writings were often shaped by the events and ideologies of their time.

Facts and findings:

The prevalence of patronage: The text reveals the significant role of patronage in the arts, demonstrating how it shaped the lives and careers of these poets and highlighting the economic and social realities of the time.
The influence of political factions: The text explores the influence of political factions, particularly Whigs and Tories, on the literary scene, demonstrating how these divisions shaped the poets’ work, their relationships, and their personal fortunes.

Statistics:

The Beggar’s Opera’s success: The text mentions the extraordinary success of John Gay’s Beggar’s Opera, which was performed for an unprecedented 63 consecutive days and had a profound impact on the theater.
The Duke of Wharton’s expenses: The text mentions the Duke of Wharton’s lavish lifestyle and extravagant spending habits, highlighting his lack of financial discipline and his ultimate downfall due to debt.

Points of view:

The Author’s Whig Perspective: The author’s Whig perspective is evident in his portrayal of poets who aligned themselves with the Whig party, which is often presented in a more favorable light. He criticizes Tories and Jacobite sympathizers, reflecting the political climate of the time.
The Poets’ Diverse Perspectives: The text presents the poets’ diverse perspectives on politics, religion, and social issues, highlighting the complex and often conflicting views that existed within the intellectual circles of the time.

Perspective:

A Look Back at 18th-Century Literature: The text offers a historical perspective on 18th-century literature, providing insights into the lives and works of these poets and their place in the literary landscape of their time.
A Commentary on the Human Condition: The text also offers a broader commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of ambition, success, failure, political intrigue, and the pursuit of happiness and recognition.

Learn more