When was Alexander Pope born and when did he die?
Alexander Pope was born in London on the 21st of May 1688 and died on the 30th of May 1744 at his villa in Twickenham. He was buried in the nave of St Mary's Church, Twickenham.
Questions about Alexander Pope
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is Alexander Pope best known for writing?
Pope is best known for his satirical poem The Rape of the Lock, first published in 1712, his philosophical poem An Essay on Man (1732-1734), The Dunciad (1728-1743), and his translations of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. He also wrote An Essay on Criticism in 1711, which brought him early fame.
Why was Alexander Pope banned from living in London?
Pope was Catholic, and a statute prevented Catholics from living within ten miles of London or Westminster. This forced his family to relocate in 1700 to a small estate at Popeswood, in Binfield, Berkshire. The same Test Acts also barred Catholics from attending university and holding public office.
What health problems did Alexander Pope suffer from?
From the age of twelve, Pope suffered from Pott disease, a form of tuberculosis affecting the spine, which deformed his body and left him with a severe hunchback. He grew to only four feet six inches tall. His tuberculosis also caused respiratory difficulties, high fevers, inflamed eyes, abdominal pain, and crippling headaches throughout his life.
How much did Alexander Pope earn for his translation of the Iliad?
Pope secured a deal with publisher Bernard Lintot paying him 200 guineas, equivalent to £210, per volume for the Iliad translation. This was described as a vast sum at the time. The six-volume translation appeared between 1715 and 1720 and was later called by Samuel Johnson a performance no age or nation could hope to equal.
What was The Dunciad by Alexander Pope about?
The Dunciad, first published anonymously in Dublin in 1728, was a satirical poem pillorying writers Pope considered hacks and dunces, with Lewis Theobald as the original central target. In the revised version of 1743, Pope replaced Theobald with the Poet Laureate Colley Cibber as king of dunces, while the real focus shifted to Robert Walpole and his Whig ministry. The poem provoked such fury that Pope began carrying pistols on his walks.