Select Works of the British Poets: With Biographical and Critical Prefaces, Volume 1

"The object of this work, which is entirely new, is to comprise, within a single volume, a chronological series of our classical poets, from Ben Johnson to Beattie, without mutilation or abridgment, with biographical and critical notices of their authors. The contents of this volume are so comprehensive, that few poems, it is believed, are omitted, except such as are of secondary merit, or unsuited to the perusal of youth" -- Page [i].