Alexander Pope

Author Code: EAPX

Pope was educated primarily at home due to his frail health. He began to write when only 16 and published a series of "pastorals" in Tonson's Miscellany in 1709. His fame came with the publication of his Essay on Criticism (1711) and was well-established with Rape of the Lock (1711). From 1715 until 1726, Pope concentrated on translations of Homer's epics. The Iliad, which was completed in 1720, although not an accurate translation, was counted as one of the great poems of the era. In 1719, he moved to Twickenham where he spent the remainder of his life. Pope experimented in all aspects of the literary world; he wrote poetry, lyrics, essays on a variety of subjects, dramas and biographical work. His work included Dunciad (1728), New Dunciad (1742), Imitations of Horace (1733-38) and An Essay on Man (1733-34). During his life, Pope was a friend or acquaintance of numerous literary figures including Addison, Swift, Arbuthnot and Gay.