A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

13240

Title

A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin offers a comprehensive survey of over 1,600 authors, including American and Colonial writers. Published in 1910, this volume aims to provide concise yet informative entries on the characters, circumstances, and major works of significant literary figures, serving as an accessible reference for the vast store of English literature.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in January 1910, *A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature* by John W. Cousin stands as a comprehensive reference work containing over 1,600 entries on authors who have contributed to English literature, including American and Colonial writers. The primary aim of the volume is to provide essential information within prescribed limits while enhancing reader interest with details that illustrate the characters and circumstances of the respective writers. Cousin acknowledges the inherent difficulty in drawing a consistent line of exclusion given the wide sense of 'literature' employed, noting that an attempt to make the work absolutely exhaustive would be futile. Consequently, every department of the subject of any importance is well represented, ranging from early historians like St. Adamnan to modern figures such as H.G. Wells and W.B. Yeats. The text covers diverse genres, from poetry and drama to history and criticism, highlighting key works, life events, and literary significance. For instance, the entry on Joseph Addison details his transition from poetry to political office and his seminal essays in the *Tatler* and *Spectator*, while John Milton's entry traces his poetic development from early sonnets to the monumental *Paradise Lost*. The dictionary values accuracy and learning, though the author admits that with such a large collection of facts and dates, absolute success is not always attainable. The work includes an appendix of living writers and lists other major biographical dictionaries of the era, such as Allibone's *Critical Dictionary* and the *Dictionary of National Biography*. Utilizing a specific system of contractions for dates and titles, the book serves as a significant historical record of literary scholarship at the turn of the 20th century, balancing factual precision with an attempt to capture the human element behind the texts.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Literature