Memoir of the early life of William Cowper, Esq. / written by himself, and never before published with an appendix containing some of Cowper's religious letters, and other interesting documents, illustrative of the memoir (Still Image)

Memoir of the early life of William Cowper, Esq. / written by himself, and never before published with an appendix containing some of Cowper's religious letters, and other interesting documents, illustrative of the memoir

Cowper, William, 1731-1800

119 p. 17 cm

2nd American ed., from the 2nd London ed

Shaw & Shoemaker, 40580

William Cowper (1731 – 1800) was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry

Although after being institutionalised for insanity in the period 1763–65, Cowper found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, he often experienced doubt and after a dream in 1773, believed that he was doomed to eternal damnation. Later, he would recover and write more religious hymns.

His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace") led to much of the poetry for which he is best remembered. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cowper


This volume, published in 1817, is a memoir which Cowper completed for private circulation in 1767, which has been described as "a late and compelling example of the Puritan conversion narrative in the manner of Bunyan's Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners ".
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/william-cowper

Cowper, William, 1731-1800

b3234028x

RC537 .C876 1817x

Newburgh [N.Y.] : Published and sold by Philo B. Pratt, 1817

Link to record in Primo