Claude Rawson Book order (chronological)

The book offers a critical examination of the terms 'neo-classic' and 'Augustan' as they relate to eighteenth-century literature, providing fresh insights and reappraisals of these concepts. Additionally, it reflects on the evolving trends in academic study of the subject over the past twenty years, making it a valuable resource for scholars interested in literary analysis and historical context.

The book delves into the disruptive influences affecting the literary landscape of the Augustan period, with a particular focus on Henry Fielding's work. It analyzes how Fielding's writings reflect and respond to the cultural and civilizational challenges of his time, providing insights into the complexities of Augustan ideals under pressure. Through this exploration, the author highlights the interplay between literature and the societal forces at play during the era.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.' Shipwrecked on the high seas, Lemuel Gulliver finds himself washed up on the strange island of Lilliput, a land inhabited by quarrelsome miniature people. On his travels he continues to meet others who force him to reflect on human behaviour - the giants of Brobdingnag, the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos. In this scathing satire on the politics and morals of the 18th Century, Swift's condemnation of society and its institutions still resonates today.

The persuasion of "Persuasion" is the persuasion of Anne Elliot by a family friend that the young man that she is in love with is an inappropriate match for her. Instead of following her heart Anne follows the advice of the family friend and lets her love go. Seven years passes and Anne, who is still alone, finds a second opportunity for true love when the man returns from sea. "Persuasion," Jane Austen's last completed novel, is the story of lost love and an older woman's chance to recapture the love that she thought was hopelessly lost.