Super Short Summary

Alexander Pope: A Life by Maynard Mack is an extensive 1985 biography that provides a balanced portrayal of the eighteenth-century English poet, examining both his virtues and flaws. The book details Pope's challenges as a Catholic and a person with disabilities in Protestant England, his self-education, literary successes, and significant friendships while offering critical readings of his major works and discussing his influence and legacy. The biography covers the discrimination faced by Catholic individuals.