Rural Life in Eighteenth-Century English Poetry

The study delves into the significant impact of self-taught English rural poetry on eighteenth-century literary culture, challenging previous perceptions. John Goodridge analyzes works by James Thomson, Stephen Duck, and Mary Collier, while closely examining John Dyer's The Fleece. The exploration highlights the purpose of rural poetry and its connection to real-world agricultural and folkloric developments, revealing a deeper understanding of the genre's relevance during that period.