A Pope

Alexander Pope may have been small in stature, but his voice thundered through the English literary world like few others. In this episode of Dave Does History, we explore the remarkable life of the hunchbacked Catholic poet who rose above religious persecution, chronic illness, and literary enemies to become one of the greatest satirists and craftsmen of verse in the English language. From The Rape of the Lock to An Essay on Man, Pope's wit was razor-sharp, his pen unflinching. Join us as we examine how this outsider reshaped poetry—and why his couplets still sting today.