The poem contains nine parts: The complaint; On time, death, friendship; Narcissa; The Christian triumph; The relapse; The infidel reclaim'd (in two parts); Virtue's apology; The consolation. Publication of the first "Night" began in 1742 and was followed by other "Nights," the eighth and ninth appearing in 1745. Its success was enormous, being translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Welsh and Magyar. In France it became a classic of the romantic school. In more recent times this masterpiece fell into obscurity but was restored to fame when mentioned in Edmund Blunden's World War One memoir, Undertones of War (1928); the author refers to the poem as a source of comfort during his time in the trenches.
