Christopher Smart, A Song to David

Neil Curry (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1763

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

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At the end of January 1763 when Christopher Smart was liberated (he was never

released

as such) from Dr Potter’s madhouse in Bethnal Green, he lost no time in arranging for the publication of the astonishing amount of verse he had written during his previous seven years of confinement, and by the first week of April a signed quarto edition of

A Song To David

was being advertised. It was his finest work and ought to have established his reputation. Instead, the critical reception it was given ruined him.

The Critical Review

dismissed it as “a fine piece of ruins”. But it was

The Monthly Review

which did the lasting damage by starting off the story that “it was written when the Author was denied the use of pen, ink and paper, and was obliged to indent his lines with the end of a…

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2145 words

Citation: Curry, Neil. "A Song to David". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 February 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6967, accessed 23 November 2024.]

Christopher Smart, A Song to David

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