English Critical Essays

English Critical Essays – is an anthology edited by Edmund D. Jones that has been published in at least two volumes, covering the 16th-18th centuries and the 19th century respectively. These works are recognized as culturally important and are in the public domain in the US. First published in 1916, this volume provides a look into the growth of English literary criticism during these centuries. It features significant writers like John Dryden, Samuel Johnson, and Alexander Pope. The collection includes essays such as Sir Philip Sidney’s An apology for poetry, John Milton’s Preface to Samson Agonistes, John Dryden’s An essay on dramatic poesy, Alexander Pope’s An essay on criticism, and Samuel Johnson’s essays on Dryden and Gray. A full list of included essays can be found in the referenced document.