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Synopsis
Excerpt from The Task: A Poem
Cowper tells us that he was a dabbler in rhymes at the age of fourteen. During his London residence he wrote occasional essays for periodicals and love poems for his cousin Theodora. In the first year at Olney he wrote, in conjunction with Newton, the Olney Hymns, among which are the Old favorites, God moves in a mysterious way, Oh, for a closer walk with God, and There is a fountain filled with blood. But it was his protecting genius, Mrs. Unwin, who really introduced him to the world. Being urged by her to write, as a means of divert ing his mind, and finding increasing delight in the new occupation, he produced The Progress of Error, Ex postulation, Retirement, and other long didactic poems. These were published in 1782, but attracted little attention. But another valued friend, Lady Austin, introduced him to fame She had already given him the story for John Gilpin, and was begging him to attempt something really worthy of his genius in the blank verse of Milton, when one day he answered I will if you will give me a sub ject. Oh, you can write on any subject, said she, write upon this sofa. Hence arose the Task, imposed by the Fair, which began in mock heroics, and grew into a noble poem of six books that gave to the timid recluse of Olney the position of first poet of the century.
In 1786 Cowper removed to Weston, one mile from Olney, where he completed an excellent translation of Homer. His last years were filled with agony. Mrs.
Unwin died in 1796, after a long illness, through which he had attended her with loving devotion. The shock reduced him to a state of hopeless despondency, and three years and a half later he was buried by her side.
Cowper, in many respects, is the Milton of private life. - sainte-ecuco.
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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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About the Author
William Cowper was a poet and a hymnodist who changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing on everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. Nick Rhodes is an editor and a poet.
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- PublisherForgotten Books
- Publication date2018
- ISBN 10 1331040183
- ISBN 13 9781331040187
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages55
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The Task: A Poem (Classic Reprint)
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Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book takes you on a journey through the troubled times of the late 18th century, exploring themes of war, oppression, and the decline of morality. The author paints a vivid picture of natural disasters and social unrest, questioning humanity's capacity for compassion in the face of suffering. Through evocative descriptions of the English countryside and poignant reflections on the state of society, the author critiques the extravagance and hypocrisy of the ruling class, contrasting it with the simple joys of nature and the importance of spiritual truth. The clergy, entrusted with guiding the nation towards virtue, are depicted as falling short of their sacred duty, contributing to the moral decay that threatens to engulf the land. Ultimately, this book serves as a powerful call for individual and societal introspection, urging readers to seek genuine faith and reject the allure of superficiality. It reminds us that true happiness lies not in material wealth or social status, but in embracing a life of honesty, compassion, and connection with the divine. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781331040187_0
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