John dryden biography and works

English poet and playwright (1631–1700)

"Dryden" redirects here. For the NHL goaltender, see Ken Dryden. For other uses, see Dryden (disambiguation). For other people of the same name, see John Dryden (disambiguation).

John Dryden (; 19 August [O.S. 9 August] 1631 – 12 May [O.S.

John Dryden -

1 May] 1700) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate.^[1][2]

He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.

Romantic writer Sir Walter Scott called him "Glorious John".^[3]

Early life

Dryden was born in the village rectory of Aldwincle near Thrapston in Northamptonshire, where his maternal grandfather was the rector of All Saints. He was the eldest of fourteen children born to Erasmus Dryden and wife Mary Pickering, paternal grandson The Life of John Dryden - SEK