Selected Poems (1685-1700)

The verses collected here capture a restless era when politics and poetry collided on the streets of London. Written between the late 1680s and the turn of the century, the poems echo the author's fierce self‑portrait as a daring journalist‑poet, unafraid to lampoon authority and defend his own reputation. Their raw energy mirrors the tumult of rebellions, trials, and the shifting fortunes of a nation in transition.

Beyond the sharp satire, the poems reveal a surprisingly intimate side—moments of personal reflection, love of language, and a yearning for the gentlemanly identity the writer constantly asserted. Listeners will hear the cadence of Restoration verse, with its vivid imagery and brisk rhetoric, while gaining a glimpse into the cultural and political climate that shaped the poet’s fierce voice. The collection offers a vivid, audible portrait of a period where words were wielded as both weapon and solace.