The Baviad And Maeviad (1797)

The Baviad And Maeviad is a satirical poem written by William Gifford and published in 1797. The poem is a scathing criticism of the contemporary literary scene in England, and takes aim at the poets of the day who Gifford believed were producing inferior works. The title of the poem is a play on the names of two ancient Roman poets, the Baviad being a reference to the poet Horace's criticism of bad poetry, and the Maeviad being a reference to the poet Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. The poem is divided into two parts, the Baviad and the Maeviad, each of which contains a series of satirical attacks on different poets and their works. Gifford uses a range of literary techniques, including parody, irony, and sarcasm, to highlight the flaws in the poetry of his contemporaries. The poem was well-received by critics at the time of its publication, and is still considered an important work of literary criticism today. Overall, The Baviad And Maeviad is a witty and entertaining satire that offers a fascinating glimpse into the literary world of late 18th-century England. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of English literature, and remains a classic example of the satirical form.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.