A Critical History of English Poetry

A Critical History of English Poetry  – The book is a collaboration between Sir Herbert Grierson, an expert on 17th-century poetry, and James Cruickshank Smith, known for his editions of Shakespeare and Spenser. The authors emphasize the work of the greatest poets, believing that individual genius shapes tradition and affects the spirit of the age, rather than merely being a product of historical influences. They provide enough attention to minor poets to ensure the historical continuity of poetic development.