The Rape of the Lock

by Alexander Pope, Aubrey Beardsley (Illustrator), Sophie Gee (Introduction)

Overview

A hideous crime is committed at a fashionable London society gathering. The victim is the beautiful, innocent Belinda, her attacker is the dastardly Baron, and his weapon of choice is a pair of scissors. A hilarious mock epic, this is the sharp and witty tale of the most famous bad hair day in the history of literature, complete with Aubrey Beardsley’s beautiful illustrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780099511526
Publisher:	Random House UK
Publication date:	07/01/2008
Series:	Vintage Classics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Alexander Pope (1688–1744) is widely regarded as the greatest English poet of the early 18th century, best known for his satirical verse. His other works include The Dunciad (1728) and An Essay on Man (1734). Aubrey Beardsley is a noted illustrator. Sophie Gee is the author of The Scandal of the Season.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION, NOTE ON TEXT, KEY TO NOTES, THE RAPE OF THE LOCK: An Heroi-Comical poem in five Canto’s APPENDICES A THE RAPE OF THE LOCKE (I7I2 VERSION) B SYLPHS C THE HEROIC COUPLET D THE LIFE OF POPE

Editorial Reviews

"Brilliant . . . triumphant. Never has so great a poem emerged from so trivial a cause."  —Peter Ackroyd

From the Publisher

Reprints the text of Pope's classic poem, both the five-canto 1714 version and the facsimile of the original 1712 version, together with a broad selection of documents putting the poem in the social and historical context of Pope's 18th century. Selections include correspondence, poems, broadsides, reviews, and parodies. Documents focus on Pope's life and career as well as on 18th-century poetic traditions and innovations, social habits, historical events, and political implications. Includes a general introduction on historical and cultural background, a chronology of Pope's life, an introduction to each thematic group of documents, headnotes, and b&w illustrations. Distributed by St. Martin's Press. No index. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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