Literary Transmission and Authority

Dryden defined himself as a writer in relation to other writers, and in doing so was something of a pioneer professional man of letters. This book looks at Dryden's literary relationships with Ben Jonson and with French authors (notably Corneille); at issues raised by the work thought to be his greatest by Romantic and contemporary readers, Fables Ancient and Modern; and at Samuel Johnson's Life of Dryden. This book has implications for questions of literary reception, influence and intertextuality, as well as for the reputation and context of Dryden himself.

• A reassessment of Dryden in the light of his relationships with predecessors and his reception amonst successors
• Engages with currently fashionable influence/reception studies and intertextuality
• Earl Miner is a very senior name in the field, with dozens of books to his name