The Works of Alexander Pope Esq. Volume V. Containing the DUNCIAD in Four Books. Printed for J. and P. Knapton in Ludgate-street. MDCCLIII (1753) lv, 272 pp plus 15 pp Index. Leather binding, raised bands to spine. All edges sprinkled red. Illustrated: frontispiece plus 4 full page engravings. Includes: A Letter to the Publisher... Martinus Scriblerus His Prolegomena and Illustrations...with the Hyper-critics of Aristarchus. Red and black title page. Pope's notorious satirical, mock heroic treatise celebrating 'Dulness', attacking fellow writers, cultural and political personalities, caused consternation and angry denunciations. It has become a model of satirical writing and commentary on cultural, particularly literary, movements of the day, and of the general malaise of society. The first version of the three book Dunciad was published in 1728 anonymously. The second version (the current one), the Dunciad Variorum, though acknowledged by Pope, was also published anonymously in 1729. The New Dunciad, a new fourth book conceived as a sequel to the previous three, appeared in 1742, and The Dunciad in all four books, was published in 1743. All editions are thus seen as having specific value and literary interest in their own right. A near fine copy of this important edition in original blind-stamped calf. Testimonies of Authors By the Author A Declaration ------------------------------------------- 18 X 12CM