This book was first published in 1968 First appearing in 1907, René Huchon with the help of original manuscripts rewrote the biography of Crabbe published by his son in 1834. As the title suggests, however, Huchon was not merely concerned with the presentation of Crabbe as a literary figure in isolation, and by conjuring up the atmosphere and background of the eighteenth century he is able to shed new light on Crabbe's poetry.There are descriptions of Aldborough, of the desolate heaths and marshy wastes where Crabbe spent his unhappy youth, which together with his background of poverty, and familiarity with the life of the country poor, led him to revolt against the current trend of pastoral poetry.

At the time the most detailed study of Crabbe, this work is of foremost importance, for rarely is a poety placed so securely in his setting, and both followers of the poet, and devotees of the eighteenth century will welcome this being freely available agian.