Lord Rochester in the Restoration World

Essays by leading scholars explore the work, life and times of the notorious libertine poet John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.

Matthew C. Augustine (Edited by), Steven N. Zwicker (Edited by)

9781107670570, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 August 2017

303 pages
23 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.47 kg

John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester (1647–1680), the notorious and brilliant libertine poet of King Charles II's court, has long been considered an embodiment of the Restoration era. This interdisciplinary collection of essays by leading scholars focuses new attention on, and brings fresh perspectives to, the writings of Lord Rochester. Particular consideration is given to the political force and social identity of Rochester's work, to the worlds - courtly and theatrical, urban and suburban - from which Rochester's poetry emerged and which it discloses, and not least to the unsettling aesthetic power of Rochester's writing. The singularity of Rochester's voice - his 'matchless wit' - has been widely recognised; this book encourages the continued appreciation of all the ways in which Rochester reveals the layered and promiscuous character of literary projects throughout the whole of a brilliant, abrasive, and miscellaneous age.

1. Lord Rochester in the Restoration world: introduction Matthew C. Augustine and Steven N. Zwicker
2. John Wilmot and the writing of 'Rochester' Jonathan Sawday
3. From script to print: marketing Rochester Paul Davis
4. Trading places: Lord Rochester, the Laureate, and the making of literary reputation Matthew C. Augustine
5. Lord Rochester: a life in gossip Steven N. Zwicker
6. Rochester and the satiric underground Nicholas von Maltzahn
7. Rochester, the theatre, and restoration theatricality David Francis Taylor
8. Rochester and the play of values Christopher Tilmouth
9. Sexual and religious libertinism in Restoration England Tim Harris
10. Sex and sovereignty in Rochester's writing Melissa E. Sanchez
11. Rochester, Behn, and Enlightenment liberty Ros Ballaster
12. Unfit to print: Rochester and the poetics of obscenity Tom Jones
13. The perspective of Rochester's letters Nicholas Fisher
14. Rochester and rhyme Tom Lockwood.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800 [DSBD]