Borough by George Crabbe is a collection of poems that paints a vivid and realistic portrait of life in a small English town during the late 18th century. Crabbe's detailed descriptions of the townspeople and their struggles with poverty, social class, and morality are both moving and thought-provoking.

The poems in Borough are filled with a sense of melancholy and despair, as Crabbe shines a light on the harsh realities of life for the lower class in a society that often neglects them. Despite the hardships faced by the characters in the poems, there are glimmers of hope and moments of humanity that stand out amidst the bleakness.

Crabbe's language is rich and evocative, drawing the reader into the world of the town and its inhabitants. His keen observation and keen insight into human nature make Borough a compelling and engaging read.

Overall, Borough is a powerful and poignant collection of poems that sheds light on the complexities of life in a small English town. Crabbe's storytelling and lyrical prose make this a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today.

Book Description:
English village life and villagers in the east of England in the late 1700’s and early 1800s—is the subject of The Borough. George Crabbe was an English poet, surgeon, and clergyman. He is best known for his early use of the realistic narrative form and his descriptions of middle and working-class life and people. Lord Byron, an avowed admirer of Crabbe's poetry, described him as "nature's sternest painter, yet the best." Crabbe's poetry was predominantly in the form of heroic couplets, and has been described as unsentimental in its depiction of provincial life and society. Modern critic Frank Whitehead has said that "Crabbe, in his verse tales in particular, is an important–indeed, a major–poet whose work has been and still is seriously undervalued." A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely. Benjamin Britten took the story of Peter Grimes (Letter 22) for his opera of the same name, though Britten changed the import of the story.