Unsentimental, opinionated, and quotable, The Lives of the Poets continues to influence the reputations of the writers concerned. It is one of the greatest works of English criticism, but also one of the most humanly diverting.

... In author's vanity or pride an't bear a neighbour by his side , though he but delighted goes long the track which Nature shows , ior ever madly runs astray , Pocross his brother in his way . And some there are , whose narrow minds ...

A delightful and comprehensive look at the lives and works of some of England's finest poets.

Using the poet's native Italian landscapes, Gilbert Highet recreates these poets in situ to evoke the essence of their work.

... Poet . Biographer .. Poetess ... Author of Biog . Notes of Johnson , & c . Theologian , & c . Historian ... in Author of Moral Tales , & c . · • • Author of " Peter Wilkins . " • • · Anna Maria Porter . Dr. Thomas Chalmers ...

... ENGLISH TRAVELLER 1633 Heywood's preface to this play is inter- esting , as it shows the heroic indifference about the opinion of posterity , which some of these great writers seem to have felt . There is a magnanimity in author- ship ...

Anna Lydia Ward, Henry George Bohn. They that do write in author's praises , And freely give their friends their voices , Are not confined to what is true ; That's not to give , but pay a due : For praise that's due does give no more To ...

In some 60 short episodes, this book captures moments of a writer's inner and public life, close moments with friends and strangers, occasional reminders of a poet's generally low place in the cultural hierarchy; time spent with cats; the ...

"A version of this book was originally published by Ticknor & Fields, a division of Houghton Mifflin, in 1992 under the title Their Ancient Glittering Eyes."--Title page verso.