Discourses on Satire and on Epic Poetry

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Discourses on Satire and on Epic Poetry" by John Dryden. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

John Dryden (1631–1700) was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden. His work includes a vast array of literary forms, ranging from drama and poetry to criticism and translation. Dryden's prose work 'Discourses on Satire and on Epic Poetry' is one of his most significant critical essays, reflecting his views on the art forms in which he himself excelled. This work underscores Dryden's positions on aesthetic matters, showing his preferences for the ancients over the moderns and highlighting the rules of composition derived from the classics. He is known for his polished and sophisticated style, a mastery of the heroic couplet, and a capacity to meld the traditions of classical literature with the complexities of contemporary politics and his own experiences. Dryden's influence was extensive, shaping not only literature but also offering critical frameworks that persisted well into the 18th century. His contributions to English literature were recognized in his own time and remain a subject of scholarly discussion to this day.