A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 822 pages of information about A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature.

A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 822 pages of information about A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature.
vols., History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate in 1894, 1897, and 1901, brought the story down to 1656, when the health of the indefatigable writer gave way, and he d. in 1902.  In addition to this monumental work G. wrote many school and college historical text-books, and contributed to the Epochs of Modern History Series, The Thirty Years’ War (1874), and The First Two Stuarts (1876); he also wrote Outlines of English History, three parts (1881-3), and Students’ History of England, three parts (1891).  From 1871-85 he was Prof. of History at King’s Coll., London, and lecturer on history for the London Society for the Extension of Univ.  Teaching.  He also ed. many of the historical documents which he unearthed in his investigations, and many of those issued by the “Camden,” “Clarendon,” and other societies.  He was ed. of The English Historical Review, and contributed largely to the Dictionary of National Biography.  The sober and unadorned style of G.’s works did little to commend them to the general reader, but their eminent learning, accuracy, impartiality, and the laborious pursuit of truth which they exhibited earned for him, from the first, the respect and admiration of scholars and serious students of history; and as his great work advanced it was recognised as a permanent contribution to historical literature.  In 1882 he received a civil list pension, and was elected to Research Fellowships, first by All Souls’ Coll., and subsequently by Merton.  He held honorary degrees from the Univ. of Oxford, Gottingen, and Edinburgh.

GARNETT, RICHARD (1835-1906).—­Biographer and writer on literature, s. of Richard G., an assistant keeper of Printed Books in the British Museum. B. at Lichfield, and ed. at a school in, Bloomsbury, he entered the British Museum in 1851 as an assistant librarian.  There he remained for nearly 50 years, and rose to be Keeper of Printed Books.  He acquired a marvellous knowledge of books, and of everything connected with pure literature.  He made numerous translations from the Greek, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, and wrote books of graceful verse, The Twilight of the Gods and other Tales (1888), various biographical works on Carlyle, Milton, Blake, and others, The Age of Dryden, a History of Italian Literature, and contributed many articles to encyclopaedias, and to the Dictionary of National Biography.

GARRICK, DAVID (1717-1779).—­Actor and dramatist, b. at Hereford, but got most of his education at Lichfield, to which his f. belonged.  He was also one of the three pupils who attended Johnson’s School at Edial.  With his great preceptor, whom he accompanied to London, he always remained on friendly terms.  He took to the stage, and became the greatest of English actors.  He also wrote various plays, and adaptations, and did not scruple to undertake “improved” versions of some of Shakespeare’s greatest plays including Cymbeline, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Winter s Tale, performing the same service for Jonson and Wycherley, in the last case with much more excuse.  Of his original plays The Lying Valet and Miss in her Teens are perhaps the best.

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A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.