A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope

A candid letter from the flamboyant actor‑manager Colley Cibber to the razor‑sharp poet Alexander Pope opens a window onto one of the most famous literary feuds of the Augustan age. In its pages Cibber defends his reputation against Pope’s relentless satire, offering a self‑portrait that is both witty and self‑aware. The exchange reveals how two towering personalities used humor, pride, and public performance to shape their legacies in a world where the press loved scandal.

The accompanying introduction places the correspondence in its turbulent cultural context, untangling long‑standing myths about the rivalry. It examines vivid anecdotes—such as the backstage clash over “The Rehearsal” and a scandalous visit to a bawdy house—while probing the motives behind each man’s self‑presentation. Listeners will hear a nuanced portrait of art, ego, and the politics of 18th‑century London, inviting a fresh re‑evaluation of both figures beyond the caricatures that have endured.