Book excerpt: First published in 1978 English Verse Satire aims to provide a critical study of the major English verse satirists as well as an account of the historical development of verse satire. Critical accounts are offered of important writers including Donne, Vaughan, Butler, Rochester, Dryden, Oldham, Swift, Pope, Young, Dr. Johnson and Churchill. An account of verse satire commences historically with the Roman satirists and Dr Selden has provided a substantial treatment of Horace and Juvenal as the basis for a study of the evolution of verse satire from the Elizabethan period to the end of the Augustan period. A special feature of the book is the emphasis on tradition, continuity, and innovation. This book is an interesting read for scholars of English literature.