The book of parodies "Rejected Epistles" was created by the brothers James (1775-1839) and Horatio (1779-1849) Smith, who were not professional writers. The publication first appeared in 1812 and became the first English collection of literary parodies. It then gained wide popularity (over the next 20 years it went through about 30 reprints, both in Great Britain and in America). The book parodied (in various poetic and prose forms) the works of English romantic writers and supporters of classicism: Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, Walter Scott, Byron, Thomas Moore, Matthew Gregory Lewis, Samuel Johnson, George Crabb and others. Taking into account the special difficulties in translation of parody works, the editorial board of the "Literary Monuments" series decided to place in the section "Additions" - the main body of the collection in the original language. This section also includes a review by Francis Jeffrey, editor of the famous English literary magazine "Edinburgh Review" (the review appeared in the November issue of 1812). The book has been translated into Russian for the first time.

CONTENTS: Announcement of the twenty-second edition (trans. E. Dunaevskaya) (5). Preface to the first edition (trans. E. Dunaevskaya) (8). Preface to the eighteenth edition (trans. E. Dunaevskaya) (15). TEXTS I. Horatio Smith. Loyal outpourings. Op. U.T.F. (William Fitzgerald), trans. S. Sukhareva (29).II. James Smith. The baby's debut. Op. U.V. (William Wordsworth), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (32). III. Horatio Smith. Message without Phoenix. Op. S.T.P., transl. S. Sukhareva (36).IV. Horatio and James Smith. Cui bono? Op. Lord B. (Byron), trans. S. Sukhareva (38).V. James Smith. A message from a Hampshire farmer. Op. W.K. (William Cobbett), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (43).VI. Horatio Smith. Living chandeliers. Op. T.M. (Thomas Moore), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (50).VII. James Smith. Recovery. Op. R.S. (Robert Southey), trans. S. Sukhareva (54).VIII. Horatio Smith. Lament for Drury. Op. Laura Matilda, trans. S.Shik (62).IX. Horatio Smith. The Tale of Drury Lane. Op. V.S. (Walter Scott), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (66).X. Horatio Smith. The Spirit of Doctor Johnson (Samuel Johnson), trans. I. Rusetsky (74).XI. Horatio Smith. A wonderful arsonist. Op. Ven. U.S. (William Spencer), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (80).XII. Horatio Smith. Fire and beer. Op. M.G.L. (Matthew Gregory Lewis), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (85).XIII. James Smith. Theatrical reflections. Op. S.T.K. (Samuel Taylor Coleridge), trans. E. Dunaevskaya (89).XIV. James Smith. Drury Lane Electoral Stand, trans. S. Sukhareva (93).XV. Horatio Smith Building atoms. Translation by Dr. B. (Dr. Busby), trans. M. Karp (96).XVI. James Smith. Theater alarm. Op. publisher "M.P." (newspaper "Morning Post"), transl. E. Dunaevskaya (104).XVII. James Smith. Theater. Op. Ven. J.K. (George Crabb), trans. S.Shik (109).XVIII, XIX, XX. Op. Momus Medlar (116).XVIII. James Smith. Attack First. Macbeth. Travesty (Shakespeare), trans. S.Shik (117).XIX. James Smith. Attack Second. Stranger. Travesty (Kotzebue). Op. DITTO, trans. S. Sukhareva (119).XX. James Smith. Attack Three. George Barnwell. Travesty (Lillo). Op. DITTO, trans. S. Sukhareva (121).XXI. Horatio Smith The Apotheosis of Punch. Op. T.X. (Theodore Hook), trans. S. Sukhareva (125). Notes from the authors, transl. E. Dunaevskaya, M. Karp, I. Rusetsky, S. Sukharev, S. Shik (131). ADDITIONS Original text (main body) (167). Francis Jeffrey. “Rejected Messages, or the New Theater of Poets” (translated by E. Dunaevskaya) (261). APPLICATIONS by G.V. Yakovlev. The Smith brothers and their book (279). Notes (compiled by G.V. Yakovleva) (325). A brief chronicle of the life and work of the brothers James and Horatio Smith (compiled by G.V. Yakovleva) (354).