Glynis Ridley – författare

A biography of Clara, an eighteenth-century globe-trotting celebrity that also happened to be a fully grown Indian rhinocerosIn 1741, an enterprising Dutch sea captain transported a young female Indian rhinoceros from Assam to Europe, where she was displayed before everyone from peasants to princes.In an age before railways and modern roads, the three-ton Clara, as she became known, had to travel in an enormous coach drawn by eight horses. For seventeen years she journeyed across mainland Europe and Britain: she became a favorite of heads of state, including Frederick the Great and Louis XV; she modeled for scientific portraits and etchings; she inspired poems, songs, and fashions; and she was immortalized in everything from tin coins to the finest porcelain. She was a star.Her tour involved unprecedented logistical planning, as no one knew how to care for this largest of land mammals. A rhinoceros can eat up to 150 pounds of vegetation a day–two and a half tons a month–and Clara developed an uncommon fondness for oranges, beer, and tobacco. Later, when Clara’s popularity threatened to decline, her owner orchestrated a series of publicity stunts. For instance, upon news of Clara’s certain and imminent death, there would be an upsurge in interest, sympathy . . . and bookings. She eventually ended her days in London, where she had become famous enough to merit mention in Oliver Goldsmith’s History of the Earth and Animated Nature and in Samuel Richardson’s Clarissa.Awarded the prestigious Institute of Historical Research Prize, Glynis Ridley’s sparkling history brings Clara’s tragicomic story vividly to life. Clara’s Grand Tour is also a portrait of an era that saw the rhinoceros as both an object of marvel and a challenge to fundamental philosophical and theological beliefs.

Offers a reader-friendly guide to reading, understanding, and appreciating Pope today Alexander Pope’s words echo across centuries, woven into the fabric of everyday English. Phrases such as “to err is human” and “hope springs eternal” have long since left the pages of his poetry to become part of common speech. But behind these familiar lines was a writer whose sharp wit, mastery of form, and satirical brilliance secured his fame while also earning him powerful enemies. The Life of the Author: Alexander Pope provides an accessible yet rigorous introduction to one of the most quoted poets in the English language. By situating Pope within the cultural and political turbulence of the eighteenth century, author Glynis Ridley illuminates the ways Pope's life and writings continually intersected, shaping both his reputation and his enduring influence. Drawing upon Pope’s poetry, prose, and correspondence, this concise volume reveals a man who was both celebrated and scorned, independent and embattled. Assuming no prior expertise in eighteenth-century literature, Ridley guides readers through the intellectual climate of Pope’s age, showing how satire became its defining form and how Pope elevated it into enduring art. Each chapter pairs biographical insight with close attention to the events that informed his work, providing a framework for understanding both his artistry and his historical significance. Opening the door to a deeper appreciation of this singular writer, The Life of the Author: Alexander Pope: Presents a compact overview of Pope’s life and works, ideal for classroom adoptionPlaces Pope’s writings in dialogue with the political and cultural contexts of his timeHighlights Pope’s role in shaping satire as the dominant literary form of his ageExplains how to approach eighteenth-century poetry with reference to Pope’s Essay on Criticism Frames Pope’s influence on language and culture, from everyday phrases to modern mediaServing as both an introduction to Pope and a springboard for further reading and research into his extensive corpus, The Life of the Author: Alexander Pope is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students exploring eighteenth-century literature, satire, or cultural history. It is well-suited for courses on English literature, poetry, and cultural studies across English, history, and humanities programs.

There is no shortage of explanations for the longevity of Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, which has been interpreted as both religious allegory and frontier myth, with Crusoe seen as an example of the self-sufficient adventurer and the archetypal colonizer and capitalist. Defoe’s original has been reimagined multiple times in legions of Robinsonade or castaway stories, but the Crusoe myth is far from spent. This wideranging collection brings together eleven scholars who suggest new and unfamiliar ways of thinking about this most familiar of works, and who ask us to consider the enduring appeal of “Crusoe,” more recognizable today than ever before.