Cobbett is best known today as the author of Rural Rides, but in his lifetime, he was an enormously productive political and economic journalist and writer of books in many fields, and he is important to students in a number of disciplines, ranging from literature, through politics and economics, to social and political history. Originally published in 1973 this book presents an account of Cobbett’s life and works, placing him in a wide cultural context and setting him above all in a literary tradition. The author investigates the sources, literary, social and political, for that complex of ‘country’ attitudes and the myth of a rural ‘Merry England’ which so dominated Cobbett’s writings. Due regard is paid to Cobbett’s historical significance as a political agitator, but the main emphasis is upon his literary qualities.

Cobbett is best known today as the author of Rural Rides, but in his lifetime, he was an enormously productive political and economic journalist and writer of books in many fields, and he is important to students in a number of disciplines, ranging from literature, through politics and economics, to social and political history. Originally published in 1973 this book presents an account of Cobbett’s life and works, placing him in a wide cultural context and setting him above all in a literary tradition. The author investigates the sources, literary, social and political, for that complex of ‘country’ attitudes and the myth of a rural ‘Merry England’ which so dominated Cobbett’s writings. Due regard is paid to Cobbett’s historical significance as a political agitator, but the main emphasis is upon his literary qualities.

Having previously suffered neglect as a result of Pope''s dominance of the period, William Cowper (1731-1800) has now become a far more important figure in eighteenth-century literature. Following the successful format of the series, Professor Sambrook''s edition consists of a comprehensive, contextual editor''s introduction together with substantial annotation on the page. The Task (1785) is the principal text discussed together with a selection of Cowper''s other poems which cover a wide range of his subjects, moods and styles.

Having previously suffered neglect as a result of Pope''s dominance of the period, William Cowper (1731-1800) has now become a far more important figure in eighteenth-century literature. Following the successful format of the series, Professor Sambrook''s edition consists of a comprehensive, contextual editor''s introduction together with substantial annotation on the page. The Task (1785) is the principal text discussed together with a selection of Cowper''s other poems which cover a wide range of his subjects, moods and styles.

Cobbett is best known today as the author of Rural Rides, but in his lifetime, he was an enormously productive political and economic journalist and writer of books in many fields, and he is important to students in a number of disciplines, ranging from literature, through politics and economics, to social and political history. Originally published in 1973 this book presents an account of Cobbett’s life and works, placing him in a wide cultural context and setting him above all in a literary tradition. The author investigates the sources, literary, social and political, for that complex of ‘country’ attitudes and the myth of a rural ‘Merry England’ which so dominated Cobbett’s writings. Due regard is paid to Cobbett’s historical significance as a political agitator, but the main emphasis is upon his literary qualities.

Cobbett is best known today as the author of Rural Rides, but in his lifetime, he was an enormously productive political and economic journalist and writer of books in many fields, and he is important to students in a number of disciplines, ranging from literature, through politics and economics, to social and political history. Originally published in 1973 this book presents an account of Cobbett’s life and works, placing him in a wide cultural context and setting him above all in a literary tradition. The author investigates the sources, literary, social and political, for that complex of ‘country’ attitudes and the myth of a rural ‘Merry England’ which so dominated Cobbett’s writings. Due regard is paid to Cobbett’s historical significance as a political agitator, but the main emphasis is upon his literary qualities.

Having previously suffered neglect as a result of Pope''s dominance of the period, William Cowper (1731-1800) has now become a far more important figure in eighteenth-century literature. Following the successful format of the series, Professor Sambrook''s edition consists of a comprehensive, contextual editor''s introduction together with substantial annotation on the page. The Task (1785) is the principal text discussed together with a selection of Cowper''s other poems which cover a wide range of his subjects, moods and styles.

Having previously suffered neglect as a result of Pope''s dominance of the period, William Cowper (1731-1800) has now become a far more important figure in eighteenth-century literature. Following the successful format of the series, Professor Sambrook''s edition consists of a comprehensive, contextual editor''s introduction together with substantial annotation on the page. The Task (1785) is the principal text discussed together with a selection of Cowper''s other poems which cover a wide range of his subjects, moods and styles.