Ben Jonson (1572–1637) was a towering figure of English Renaissance literature, known for his sharp wit, classical learning, and mastery of both drama and poetry. A contemporary and friendly rival of William Shakespeare, Jonson helped shape the early modern English stage and was a dominant literary voice during the JacobeanContinue Reading

Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) was a major English novelist and poet of the Victorian and early modernist eras. Born in Dorset, England, Hardy was deeply influenced by rural life, which provided the backdrop for much of his fiction. Though he began his career as an architect, he turned to writing andContinue Reading

Thomas Gray (1716–1771) was one of the most important English poets of the 18th century, best known for his elegiac and reflective verse. Born in London, he was educated at Eton College and later at Peterhouse, Cambridge. Though he lived a quiet and scholarly life, his literary output left aContinue Reading