The Poetical Works of William Collins; With a Memoir

"The Poetical Works of William Collins; With a Memoir" by William Collins is a compilation of poems from the 1700s that highlights William Collins's talent through his odes and eclogues, accompanied by a life story. The book starts by giving us context about Collins's life, including his schooling, his battles with mental health, and his unfortunate ending. It paints a picture of him as a brilliant poet whose work wasn't fully recognized when he was alive, which led to sadness that made his mental health problems worse. His early writings, like "Selim; or, The Shepherd's Moral" from the "Oriental Eclogues," introduce themes of virtue and beauty, teaching moral lessons in peaceful, idealized settings. The memoir shows the mix of happiness and sadness in his story, focusing on both his successes as an artist and the sad events that marked his life.