The Selected Letters of William Cowper; (The Great letters series)

The letters of Cowper stand high among all the letters that have survived from 18th century England. It was a great age of correspondence, as it was of conversation, and many would say that for intimacy and charm Cowper out-distanced his rivals. He revealed himself in his letters as few men ever have; and he had much to reveal. He wrote his poetry to forget his sufferings, and in a measure he conducted his correspondence with the same motive in mind. Yet the whole of this correspondence includes a frank, full record of his most secret terrors; and it is the distinction of the present volume that it offers to plain view, as many such selections do not.