Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... PART IV THE MODERN ENGLISH PERIOD Since cir. 1750 CHAPTER I The BEanorraa Of Modeen Literature-cut. mo-mo The history of England during the greater part of the eighteenth century, is the history of rapid and comprehensive changes in almost every department of the nation's life--indus-eighteenth trial, religious, political, social, and in-century Engtellectual. As we advance the England of Pope and Addison, now well-nigh as remote from our daily life as that of Shakespeare or Milton, recedes with wonderful swiftness, and through a rapid succession of changes we pass into the England of to-day. As we near the middle of the century the political corruption, the coldly intellectual temper, the studied repression and brilliant cynicism melt before the fervor of a rising spirituality, and new generations, actuated by diametrically opposite ideals of life, crowd forward to displace the old. This fresh national life utters itself in new forms of literature, and with the rise of Modern England we reach the beginning of a literary period surpassed only by that of the Elizabethans. We may relate many of these changes to one great motive cause. We have watched that mood of dissolute levity which immediately succeeded the Restoration pass into an era of comparative decency and frigid " good sense." Then Addison utters his kindly but somewhat superficial strictures on fashionable follies; then Pope is before us, with his little vanities and complaisant optimism, and Swift, savage, morose, and terrible, is intriguing and placehunting like the rest, but with the bitter inward protest of contempt and scorn of such a world. Now the nation was too inherently emotional and religious for such a mood to long endure; the higher side of men's nature began to...
