Madame Zborowska Painting by Amedo Modigalini

John Dryden was one of the greatest English poets. He was one of the prominent writers of seventeenth century and the latter part of that century is called ‘the age of Dryden’.

Dryden was born at Aldwinke in Northamptonshire on August 9, 1631. He had his early education at Westminister school and then graduated from Cambridge University in 1654. He settled down in London, and married Elizabeth Howard in 1663. On occasion, he trimmed his politics and his religion to the prevailing wind, and as a Roman catholic convert under James II lost the Laureateship and pension to which he had been appo9inted in 1688. Prior to this he was appointed as poet Laureate in 1670.

Dryden was adept in all literary forms. His famous works are: Of Dramatick Poisie, an Essay (1688), Astraea Redux, Annus Mirabilis, comedy: The Wild Gallant, Love Triumphant, The Conquest of Granada (1672), Aureng-Zeb(1675), All for Love (1678), The Medall, Absalom and Achitophel, Religio Laicie (1682), To the Pious Memory of Mrs Anne Killigrew, (1686), A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day (1687), Don Sebastian (1690), The Hind and the Panther, Alexander’s Feast (1697) and Fable Ancient and Modern (1700).

He was a master of all verse forms but especially of the heroic couplet. His later ventures to support himself include a translation of Virgil (1697).