Alexander Pope

(1688 - 1744)

When the young poet Alexander Pope submitted his satire of Chaucer’s “House of Fame” to Richard Steele, The Spectator editor wrote back that he saw “in it a thousand thousand beauties.” Later in life, critics attacked Pope for his edited version of Shakespeare’s works, inspiring him to cast one vehement detractor as the Goddess of Dullness’ favorite son in his landmark satire, The Dunciad.