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Lord Byron - English Poet (1788-1824)
Formally, George Gordon Noel Byron, 6th Baron Byron. After a childhood in poverty his entitlement at age ten afforded him education at Harrow and Cambridge. Strong advocate of social reform in the House of Lords, and co-writer of radical political journals. His love life was a frequent source of scandal in England. Traveled through Europe, the Balkans and Middle East and settled in Italy where he wrote much of the verse that made him the most famous of the English Romantic writers. Became a close friend of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife Mary (author of Frankenstein).
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Thomas Moore - Irish Poet (1779-1852)
Reknowned as the national lyrist of Ireland. Moore and Lord Byron were among the most popular writers of verse in the English Romantic period. Moore also gained notoriety as a novelist, satirist and composer of Irish folksongs set to traditional music. He was a popular hero among Irish nationalists. He was a close friend of Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. While visiting Byron in Italy, Moore was entrusted with his memoirs, which Moore later destroyed, presumably to protect Byron. Moore published a biography of Byron in 1830.
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Robert Burns - Scottish Poet (1759-1796)
Son of a tenant farmer, raised as a plowboy, he began writing poetry at age twenty-four and quickly found social and literary acclaim. Regarded as Scotland's greatest poet, his views of nature, love, loyalty, and a simple life were expressed through a distinctive blend of dialect, traditional verse and folk song. Burns is perhaps most well known for his restoration of an ancient song, "Auld Lang Syne".
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William Wilkie Collins - English Novelist (1824-1889)
His first book was a biography of his father, an English painter. Collins also wrote two romance novels, but he is best known for his later works which distinguished him as one of the first and greatest writers of mystery and detective stories. His writing style influenced some of the later work of Charles Dickens, with whom Collins collaborated on several stories.
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Charles Dickens - English Novelist (1812-1870)
He overcame an impoverished childhood and little formal education to become one of England's most widely popular novelists. He excelled in portraying the lives of the poor working class. He also managed a theatrical company, and was a journalist and lecturer. Dickens was an advocate of international copyright and the abolition of slavery. Author of "Oliver Twist", "David Copperfield", "Hard Times", "A Tale of Two Cities", and "A Christmas Carol".
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George Henry Barrow - English Writer (1803-1881)
Linguist, and author of travel and adventure books based on his experiences as a wandering journalist and Bible peddler. He was well acquainted with the Gypsy peoples in England and Europe. He wrote "The Bible in Spain", however he was philosophically an atheist. After gaining acclaim from his later works "Romany Rye" and his masterpiece "Lavengro", he eventually rejected Christianity, admitting only to a "great spirit".
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Ben Jonson - English Dramatist & Poet (1573-1637)
Born into poverty, raised fatherless, he became one of the most learned men of the Elizabethan era and was a close friend of William Shakespeare. Achieved first fame as a playwright in 1598. Rather quarrelsome by nature, he killed another actor in a duel, was imprisoned and narrowly avoided a death sentence. Famed for his theatrical comedies, political and social satires.
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William Shakespeare - English Dramatist (1564-1616)
Widely considered to be the greatest writer of all time, and certainly the finest in Western literature. He established himself as an actor-playwright in London in 1592 and over the following two decades wrote dozens of plays; tragedies, comedies, histories, and romances dealing with the human condition. Also the author of numeorus poems. His work has become known around the world.
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Thomas Shadwell - English Dramatist (164?-1692)
He wrote poems, operas, and numerous plays, many in the style of Ben Jonson's earlier theatrical comedies. His works are known for their frank dialogue and realistic vignettes of life in London. He became Poet Laureate in 1689, succeeding the poet John Dryden whom he disliked and engaged in an ongoing literary feud.
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson - English Poet (1809-1892)
Regarded as the leading English poet of the Victorian era, his work was quite popular throughout his career. His early influence came from the English Romantic poets. His poetry was initially criticized for being overly sentimental and embellished, but was later praised for his skillful meter and imagery. His two older brothers were also poets.
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