William Cowper: Selected Letters

by William Cowper, James King (Editor), Charles Ryskamp (Editor)

The letters of William Cowper (1731-1800) are renowned for their seemingly effortless spontaneity, intimacy, and delicacy. William Blake said of them, "Certainly, the very best letters that ever were published." This book selects letters from every part of his life and give insight into the workings of his suicidal mind, desolate in its conviction of total abandonment by God. As a whole, the letters reveal Cowper's extraordinary skill as a writer of letters, his personality in all its guises, his deep-seated commitment to friendship, his fine critical sensiblility, and his interest in landscape, gardens, pets, and ordinary village lives and events. All the letters are printed in complete form, following the texts of the editors' acclaimed five-volume edition.

268 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 1989

About the author

The Task , best-known work of William Cowper, British poet, considered a precursor of romanticism, in 1785 praises rural life and leisure.

William Cowper served as an English hymnodist. Cowper, one most popular man of his time, wrote of everyday nature scenes of the English countryside and thus changed the direction of 18th century. In many ways, he foreran later authors. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "modern," whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired Yardley-Oak . He a nephew of Judith Madan.

From severe manic depression, Cowper suffered, found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, often experienced doubt, and feared doom to eternal damnation. His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote Amazing Grace , the hymn) led to much memorable writing.