Dryden and the Tradition of Panegyric

Dryden and the Tradition of Panegyric explores the intriguing relationship between two distinct literary forms: the epic and panegyric. The study begins with a question inspired by a remark made by John Dryden in his Account of Annus Mirabilis, where he suggests that the same images serve equally for the epic poesy, and for the historic and panegyric. This curious observation led the author to investigate the tradition of panegyric in the seventeenth century, which had been largely overlooked. By examining works that claimed to belong to this genre, the study uncovers a literary tradition that warrants serious consideration, particularly for those interested in Dryden's poetry. The book recovers this tradition in chapters 2 and 3, and explores its influence on Dryden’s work in chapters 4 and 5.

The study draws on numerous lesser-known works, and the author includes generous excerpts for analysis. All quotes from Dryden’s poetry are taken from The Poems of John Dryden (1958) by James Kinsley. Classical authors are referenced through The Loeb Classical Library, and neo-Latin authors are cited from specialized editions of the works of figures such as Desiderius Erasmus, Thomas More, and Walter Haddon. The book also offers translations of Latin panegyrics and critical commentary on them, with most translations prepared by Salle Ann Schlueter. This work sheds new light on Dryden's connection to the tradition of panegyric and offers readers a deeper understanding of its role in his poetry and its broader significance in literary history.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1975.