The Works of Thomas Love Peacock: Poetry. Miscellanies. Four Ages of Poetry. Horae Dramaticae, No. 1-3 . Shelley. Shelley Letters

This volume is part of the definitive Halliford Edition of the works of Thomas Love Peacock, a nineteenth-century novelist and satirist known for his eccentric characters and intellectual wit. The collection was originally edited by H.F.B. Brett-Smith and C.E. Jones, who aimed to compile a comprehensive, scholarly assembly of Peacock's literary contributions, including his distinctive poetry and critical essays. The edition was first published in the 1920s and 1930s by Constable and Company in London, serving as the standard reference for scholars seeking to contextualize Peacock's relationship with figures like Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The inclusion of pieces like 'Four Ages of Poetry' is particularly significant, as it famously prompted Shelley to pen his own 'A Defence of Poetry' in response to Peacock’s provocative arguments. The design of the Halliford Edition reflects the academic sensibilities of the early twentieth century, prioritizing clear typography and extensive editorial notes to illuminate the nuances of Peacock’s satirical style. As a modern reprint, this volume preserves that historical scholarship, allowing contemporary readers to access the primary texts that defined the social and literary debates of the Romantic period.