Routledge Slavery and Augustan Literature - Swift, Pope, Gay

Explore the complex relationship between eighteenth-century literature and the global slave trade in this scholarly work from Routledge. Slavery and Augustan Literature examines the writings of Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and John Gay to uncover how their work connected to the political landscape of their time. This book investigates how these three prominent writers were linked to a Tory ministry that sought to expand the English share of the international slave trade. By analyzing contemporary ideas about slavery and the specific texts written during the Tory ministry years, the study reveals how certain writings may have obscured the true scale of slave trade planning. The text provides a deep look at the historical context of the era, moving from the political motivations of the ministry to a detailed analysis of the literary attitudes held by these authors. It is an essential resource for students and researchers interested in the intersection of politics, economics, and literature in the Augustan age.