{"product_id":"poems-plays-and-the-briton-tobias-smollett-9780820314280","title":"Poems, Plays, and \"the Briton\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe poems, plays, and political writings included in this volume are essential to an understanding of Tobias Smollett and the literary and social currents of eighteenth-century England. In introductions to the separate sections of the volume, Byron Gassman identifies the circumstances that prompted Smollett to undertake these writings, traces the history of their publication and reception, and provides extensive explanations of historical and literary allusions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe poems in the volume represent Smollett's entire achievement as a poet. Among the shorter poems are \"A New Song,\" his first printed work; \"The Tears of Scotland,\" an early expression of his defiant spirit; and the popular \"Ode to Independence,\" written during the last decade of his life. Two longer works, \"Advice\" (1746) and its sequel, \"Reproof\" (1747), are satires written in Popean heroic couplets; they mark the beginnings of Smollett's attacks on theater managers, corrupt politicians, iniquitous military leaders, and other well-known personalities of the day. An appendix to this volume includes five additional poems assigned but not definitely attributed to Smollett.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Reprisal; or The Tars of Old England\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Regicide\u003c\/em\u003e are the only extant plays by Smollett. \u003cem\u003eThe Regicide\u003c\/em\u003e, written when the author was only eighteen or nineteen, dramatizes the story of the murder of James I of Scotland. \u003cem\u003eThe Reprisal\u003c\/em\u003e, a patriotic comedy performed as an afterpiece at the Theatre Royal, was a moderate theatrical success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmollett's political writings for \u003cem\u003eThe Briton\u003c\/em\u003e, a weekly journal he established in 1762 for defending the policies of the Earl of Bute, mark a particularly painful period in the author's life. A paper war erupted with the first number, and Smollett and Bute became the objects of scathing counterattacks, particularly in the writings of John Wilkes. This volume brings together for the first time all issues of \u003cem\u003eThe Briton\u003c\/em\u003e and also includes a key identifying the weekly's numerous elliptical references to persons and places.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Tobias Smollett\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0820314285\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780820314280\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Georgia Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/01\/1993\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 592\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.24h x 6.33w x 1.99d","brand":"Tobias Smollett","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44966116720895,"sku":"9780820314280","price":120.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b35480dc-48f7-471e-b5ed-de56244516e0.jpg?v=1711158905","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/poems-plays-and-the-briton-tobias-smollett-9780820314280","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}