A History of Eighteenth-Century British Literature is a lively exploration of one of the most diverse and innovative periods in literary history. Capturing the richness and excitement of the era, this book provides extensive coverage of major authors, poets, dramatists, and journalists of the period, such as Dryden, Pope and Swift, while also exploring the works of important writers who have received less attention by modern scholars, such as Matthew Prior and Charles Churchill. Uniquely, the book also discusses noncanonical, working-class writers and demotic works of the era.

During the eighteenth-century, Britain experienced vast social, political, economic, and existential changes, greatly influencing the literary world.  The major forms of verse, poetry, fiction and non-fiction, experimental works, drama, and political prose from writers such as Montagu, Finch, Johnson, Goldsmith and Cowper, are discussed here in relation to their historical context. A History of Eighteenth-Century British Literature is essential reading for advanced undergraduates and graduate students of English literature.

Topics covered include: 

• Verse in the early 18th century, from Pope, Gay, and Swift to Addison, Defoe, Montagu, and Finch
• Poetry from the mid- to late-century, highlighting the works of Johnson, Gray, Collins, Smart, Goldsmith, and Cowper among others, as well as women and working-class poets
• Prose Fiction in the early and 18th century, including Behn, Haywood, Defoe, Swift, Richardson, Fielding, and Smollett
• The novel past mid-century, including experimental works by Johnson, Sterne, Mackenzie, Walpole, Goldsmith, and Burney
• Non-fiction prose, including political and polemical prose
• 18th century drama

John Richetti is the A.M Rosenthal Professor (Emeritus) of English Literature, University of Pennsylvania and Distinguished Professor of English (emeritus), Rutgers University. Professor Richetti has published numerous books, essays, and reviews in the field of Eighteenth-Century English Literature. He has also held visiting appointments at Stanford University, New York University, and Princeton University, and is President of the Daniel Defoe Society.