The Works Of John Dryden, Now First Collected In Eighteen Volumes: Volume 4 - Softcover

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John Dryden was an English poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist, widely regarded as a defining figure of Restoration literature. Born on 19 August 1631 in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire, England, he became one of the most influential writers of 17th-century English literary culture, shaping the development of heroic drama, satire, and literary criticism. Dryden's works reflect the political, religious, and cultural tensions of Restoration England, often engaging with themes of authority, loyalty, ambition, and human conflict. Through Restoration era English literature and tragedy plays, his dramas and poems helped establish new standards of structure and style in English theatre, blending classical influences with contemporary concerns. His critical essays also played a key role in defining principles of literary composition and dramatic theory. This aligns with Dryden political power and ambition themes in drama, where his characters and narratives frequently explore struggles for power, legitimacy, and moral decision-making within unstable political environments. He married Lady Elizabeth Howard in 1663 and had three children: Charles, John, and Erasmus Henry. He died on 12 May 1700 in London, leaving a legacy as England's first official Poet Laureate and a foundational figure in English literary tradition