An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets: With Some Remarks upon the Misrepresentations of ... - Shakespeare and Renaissance Drama) - Softcover

Montagu, Elizabeth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1108083919 ISBN 13: 9781108083911

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2018

Synopsis

The daughter of wealthy parents, and well educated in history and languages, at the age of twenty-one Elizabeth Robinson (1718–1800) married Edward Montagu, a grandson of the earl of Sandwich whose income derived from northern estates and coal-mines, and began to establish a London salon attended by the intellectual cream of British society, including Johnson, Burke, Garrick, and Hester Chapone. This 1769 work, written at the urging of her bluestocking friend Elizabeth Carter, is a spirited defence of Shakespeare against the criticism of Voltaire, comparing Shakespeare's genius to that of the ancient Greek and modern French poet-dramatists, and finding it superior. Voltaire is especially condemned in this lively and elegant piece for his efforts to measure Shakespeare against Corneille using an inadequate and mechanistic French translation of the English dramatist's work. Mrs Montagu's collected letters, and works by others of her circle, are also reissued in this series.

About this title

Book Description

This 1769 work is a spirited defence of Shakespeare against the criticism of Voltaire, who claimed that his work was inferior to that of modern French dramatists. Voltaire is especially condemned for his efforts to measure Shakespeare against Corneille using an inadequate French translation of the English dramatist's work.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1108083919
• ISBN 13: 9781108083911
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 254