The Rape Of The Lock And A Key To The Lock

The Rape of the Lock and A Key to the Lock (2004) by Alexander Pope — Hesperus Poetry Edition
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A dazzling mock-epic and a sharp satirical response to 18th-century high society, The Rape of the Lock remains Alexander Pope’s most celebrated poem. In this elegant Hesperus Poetry edition, readers will find not only the poem in its refined five-canto form but also Pope’s lesser-known but equally biting A Key to the Lock, a parody of the over-serious commentaries that often plagued poetic works.

First published in 1714, The Rape of the Lock transforms a petty squabble over a snipped curl into a grand mythological battle, complete with sylphs, gnomes, and a truly ridiculous sense of drama. It’s Pope at his most polished and mischievous. A Key to the Lock, added here for good measure, offers a tongue-in-cheek “explanation” of the poem’s “hidden meaning,” skewering conspiracy-minded readers before they had a chance.

This 2004 Hesperus edition brings Pope’s razor wit to a new generation in a compact, readable format — lightly worn, possibly a bit foxed, and with that particular musty charm only available from Crappy Old Books. Perfect for lovers of satire, poetry, or simply those who enjoy a good mock-heroic hair disaster.

Near new condition.

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