The Rape of the Lock
The Rape of the Lock is Alexander Pope's mock-heroic poem, first printed anonymously in two cantos in Lintot's Miscellaneous Poems and Translations in 1712. The five-canto version with engravings followed in 1714, mocking a real quarrel after Lord Petre cut a lock of Arabella Fermor's hair.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First published
- Bernard Lintot, 1712
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Printed for Bernard Lintott1714 Hardback I own The Rape of the Lock, Printed for Bernard Lintott 1714 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- The Dream of Belinda adaptation
Setting and characters
- Characters
- Belinda
- Genre
- poetry
In print
- Editions recorded
- 125 on Open Library, 98 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 17 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Pictures of the book
Freely licensed pictures of the work. They are not necessarily the edition you hold: check the points on each edition's page.
More by Alexander Pope
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
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Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Rape of the Lock are there?
We track 1 edition of The Rape of the Lock. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has The Rape of the Lock been adapted?
Yes, including The Dream of Belinda (adaptation), according to Wikidata.
When was The Rape of the Lock first published?
The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope was first published in 1712.
Where these facts come from
- The Rape of the Lock, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Rape of the Lock (1714, ESTC T5726), Grub Street Project (grubstreetproject.net)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 26 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.