John Lyly

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22525

Title

John Lyly

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This scholarly biography and critical study by John Dover Wilson explores the life and multifaceted literary career of John Lyly, a pivotal figure in Elizabethan literature. Wilson examines Lyly's role as a founder of English prose style, the author of the first English novel of manners, and the 'Father of English Comedy.' The text delves into the origins and mechanics of 'Euphuism,' Lyly's dramatic innovations, and his significant influence on the development of the novel and English comedy, offering a...

Summary up to 500 words

John Dover Wilson's comprehensive study of John Lyly offers a rigorous historical and aesthetic analysis of one of Elizabethan literature's most significant figures. Wilson argues that Lyly's primary importance lies not merely in his intrinsic artistic merit, but in his dynamic influence on subsequent literature. The work is structured to address three main literary problems centered on Lyly's name: his role in establishing English prose style, his authorship of the first English novel of manners, and his status as the father of English comedy. Wilson distinguishes between aesthetic appreciation and historical criticism, asserting that while Lyly possessed beauty, his historical value is dynamical. He traces the evolution of Lyly's career from an irresponsible Oxford undergraduate to a courtier who mastered the conventions of the moral court treatise. A central theme of the book is the discovery that the fully developed style of 'Euphuism' was not solely Lyly's invention but the product of a circle of young Oxford men, including figures like Stephen Gosson and Thomas Watson. Wilson challenges the notion of Lyly as a sincere Puritan, suggesting instead that his moralizing in works like *The Anatomy of Wit* was conventional rather than a reflection of his true personality. The study highlights a pivotal shift in Lyly's second novel, *Euphues and his England*. Wilson credits Lyly with the strategic insight to appeal to a female readership, a move that Wilson deems crucial to the novel's enduring existence. This dedication to 'the ladies and gentlewomen of England' effectively launched the literature of the drawing-room, a genre that would define the novel for centuries. By enlisting women as patrons and purchasers, Lyly ensured the continued existence of fiction in the literary market. Furthermore, Wilson investigates Lyly's dramatic career, establishing his claim as the father of English comedy through his use of blank verse and his influence on contemporaries like Shakespeare. The book concludes with a reconstruction of Lyly's character, portraying him as a brilliant and fascinating individual whose versatility and range of expression took the world by storm. Ultimately, Wilson presents Lyly as a foundational figure whose work stands at the threshold of modern English literature, influencing the development of prose, the novel, and comedy alike.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Literary Criticism