John Arbuthnot, The History of John Bull

Pat Rogers (University of South Florida)

Ed. by Nicholas Seager, University of Keele
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication Mar 1712 - Jul 2012

Places

United Kingdom (Country of Origin; Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Non-Fiction
- Pamphlets/ Tracts/ Chapbooks
Satire

Resources

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In his lifetime, the Scottish polymath John Arbuthnot (1667–1735) was famous as a physician, public servant, student of probability, and author of scholarly works on the ancient world. Most of his works rely on his wide attainments in the sciences and his comprehensive library. However, he is best remembered today for his satiric publications, above all

The History of John Bull

, which for some generations rivalled in popularity the work of his friends in the Scriblerus Club, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and John Gay. A few of his humorous squibs were printed by Pope in the group’s

Miscellanies

from 1727, but many have been lost because of Arbuthnot’s fierce efforts to keep them anonymous.

John Bull appeared in five prose pamphlets between 4 March and 31 July 1712. They were issued

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1144 words

Citation: Rogers, Pat. "The History of John Bull". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 September 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39344, accessed 24 November 2024.]

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John Arbuthnot, The History of John Bull

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