Aristotle Anatomised: The «Poetics» in England 1674 - 1781

by J.C. Eade

The Poetics has always had an independence from Aristotle's other writings, even from the Rhetoric, and it will always be amenable to being given a colouring by the context in which it finds itself. In the neo-classical period in England - here taken to extend from the last quarter of the 17th century to the last quarter of the 18th - it continued to be regarded as a basic authority. But in the treatment of its text there is a continuing shift of attitude - well before classicism gave way to other impulses. As will be seen, the shift is reflected even in the personalities of the six writers studied here.

111 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1988