Pope’s Mythologies: Alexander Pope and Myth in the Early British Enlightenment investigates Alexander Pope, who was no ordinary poet when it came to mythology. He didn’t merely follow the traditional path of poetic exploration; he boldly reshaped myths in his own image, breathing fresh life into these ancient stories.

This volume marks a milestone in scholarly analysis as the contributors delve into the poetic world of Alexander Pope and the intricate dance between his verse and the intellectual currents of mythology and mythography during the early British Enlightenment.

“This is the first book to consider Pope’s entire poetic career in the context of British Enlightenment – and current European – thinking about ancient myths and their contemporary relevance. The contributors include some of the world’s leading scholars on 18th century literature and culture, and on Alexander Pope in particular,” says Emeritus Professor Tony Cousins, one of the editors of the book.

As each chapter takes a journey through Pope’s major works, including one of his most well-known, The Rape of the Lock, we discover that he wielded mythology as a versatile tool, moulding it in diverse ways across his poetic landscape.

In shedding light on this intricate relationship between Pope and myth, we gain a deeper appreciation for how, during the early 18th century in Britain, the very essence of myth was undergoing a transformation. These shifts in understanding weren’t isolated; they were part of a broader intellectual evolution, notably influenced by the groundbreaking ideas of Baconian thought and the far-reaching legacy it left on the cultural and philosophical tapestry of the era.

Read the book online here.