Britannia's issue : the rise of British literature from Dryden to Ossian

This, Howard D.Weinbrot's magnum opus, draws on a large range of material to chronicle the developing confidence in British national literature from the 1670s to the 1770s. Using varied biblical, classical, English, economic, French, historical, literary, philosophical, political and Scottish sources, Professor Weinbrot shows that one of the central trends of eighteenth-century Britain was the movement away from classical towards native values and models. He demonstrates for example that Dryden's Essay of Dramatick Poesy reflects nationalist aesthetics, that Pope's Rape of the Lock affirms domestic peace while rejecting Homeric violence, and that Windsor Forest sings un-Roman peaceful expansion through trade. This learned and lucidly written book offers revisionist but historically grounded interpretations of these and many other important works. It also helps to characterize the complex and varied culture in eighteenth-century Britain. Howard D. Weinbrot's Britannia's Issue Chronicles The Developing Confidence In British Letters And Values From The 1660s To The 1760s. His Range Of Evidence Includes Biblical, Classical, Economic, English, French, And Scottish Sources That Help To Show Eighteenth-century Britain's Movement Away From Classical And Towards Native Values And Models In An Expanding Nation. He Demonstrates That Dryden's Essay Of Dramatick Poesie Reflects Nationalist Aesthetics, That Pope's Rape Of The Lock Affirms Domestic Harmony While Rejecting Homeric Violence, And That Windsor Forest Sings Unroman Peaceful Expansion Through Trade. Thereafter, He Makes Plain How Dryden, Gray, And Collins Naturalize The Greek Ode, How Philosemitism And Its Limits Help To Illuminate Handel's Israel In Egypt And Smart's Song To David, And How Post-culloden Celtomania Influenced Macpherson's Ossian Poems. These And Other Works Belong To A United Kingdom That Respects The Classics But Regards Them Only As One Part Of Britain's Literary And Genetic Synthesis. This Learned And Lucidly Written Book Offers Revisionist But Historically Grounded Interpretations Of Important Works Within Complex And Varied Eighteenth-century British Cultures.--jacket. Moderns, Ancients, And The Secular: The Limits Of Southern Hegemony -- The Spiritual: Truth Was Not The Inclination Of The First Ages -- An Ambition To Excel -- The Making Of The Modern Canon -- Dryden's Essay Of Dramatick Poesie: The Poetics Of Nationalism -- Homeric Wars -- The Pax Romana And The Pax Britannica: The Ethics Of War And The Ethics Of Trade -- Windsor Forest And The Rape Of The Lock -- Greek Jockeys And British Heroes: The Rise And Fall Of The Pindaric Ode -- Odes To The Nation And The North: Dryden, Collins, And Gray -- The House Of David And The House Of St. George: Philosemitism, Hebrews, And Handel -- Beyond The Hebrew Leaven: Smart And The God In Christ -- Celtic Scotland -- Ossian In Scotland, Great Britain, And Modern Europe: Joining Britannia's Issue -- Conclusion. Synthesizing All The Nations Under Heaven. Howard D. Weinbrot. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This, Howard D. Weinbrot's magnum opus, draws on a large range of material to chronicle the developing confidence in British national literature from the 1670s to the 1770s. Using varied biblical, classical, English, economic, French, historical, literary, philosophical, political and Scottish sources, Professor Weinbrot shows that one of the central trends of eighteenth-century Britain was the movement away from classical towards native values and models. He demonstrates for example that Dryden's Essay of Dramatick Poesy reflects nationalist aesthetics, that Pope's Rape of the Lock affirms domestic peace while rejecting Homeric violence, and that Windsor Forest sings un-Roman peaceful expansion through trade. This learned and lucidly written book offers revisionist but historically grounded interpretations of these and many other important works. It also helps to characterize the complex and varied culture in eighteenth-century Britain This book chronicles the developing confidence in British national literature from the 1670s to the 1770s. Using many varied historical and literary sources, Professor Weinbrot shows that one of the central trends of eighteenth-century Britain was the movement away from classical towards native values and models.