A collection of anecdotes, mostly collected from Spence's conversations with Pope, but including snippets from many others as well. Most deal with literature, writing, and impressions of contemporaries. Some are extremely amusing. My favorite, from Pope, involves him reading to Lord Hallifax from his translation of Homer's Iliad; the nobleman requested some changes, and Pope was unsure how to handle the situation. His companion let him in on a little secret: "All you need to, (said he) is to leave them just as they are; call on Lord Hallifax two or three months hence, thank him for his kind observations on those passages; and then read them to him as altered. I have known him much longer than you have, and will be answerable for the event." Pope does just this, and of course Hallifax responds "Ay now, Mr. Pope, they are perfectly right! Nothing can be better."

A fascinating glimpse into the days of Pope and Swift, Addison and Steele. Along with the anecdotes as originally published, included in this edition are anecdotes taken from Spence's unpublished papers, plus a selection of letters sent and received by him. ( )