ABSTRACT
Cowper told Newton that he was indifferent to the world's opinion of The Task, but he admitted to William Unwin that he was pleased to have made 'a handsome escape ... out of the paws of the Critics' (Letters II, 405: 28 November 1785). Reviews were indeed far more favourable than they had been for the 1782 volume. One or two critics found similarities between The Task and Young's Night Thoughts, but there was general praise for Cowper's sharp satire, humour, good sense, solid argument, and original mixture of grave and gay. Cowper was now widely recognized as an important poet and the notice achieved by his new poem prompted some longlost friends of his Westminster and Temple days to resume communication.
