A Brief Handbook of English Authors

Cobbe, Frances Power. 1822 – . Philosophical writer. Author of Intuitive Morals, Religious Duty, Darwinism in Morals, The Peak in Darien, Duties of Women, etc. A clear, able, and vigorous writer. Pub. El.

Cobbett, Wm. 1762–1835. Political writer. Style idiomatic and rancorous. See Robert Walker's How to Get on in the World, as Demonstrated by the Life and Language of William Cobbett.

Cobden, Richard. 1804–1865. Statesman. See Political Writings of London, 1867; Speeches, etc., in London, 1870; Gilchrist's Life of, 1865; and Recollections of, by Ashworth. Pub. Apl.

Cockburn [kō´burn], Henry Thos., Lord. 1779–1854. Jurist. Author Life and Correspondence of Lord Jeffrey, and Memorials of his Times.

Coke, Sir Edward. c. 1549–1634. Jurist. Best known by his famous Coke upon Littleton, or the First Institute.

Colenso, John Wm. 1814–1883. Bp. Natal. Theologian. Author of The Pentateuch and Joshua Critically Examined, Lect. on the Pentateuch and Moabite Stone, etc. An able and vigorous writer.

Coleridge [kōl´rĭj], Hartley. 1796–1849. Poet. Son to S. T. C. Author of Poems, Essays, Life of Massinger, etc. Style in both prose and verse clear and beautiful. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 4.

Coleridge, Henry Nelson. 1800–1843. Neph. to S. T. C. Essayist. Style able and scholarly.

Coleridge, John Taylor. 1790–1876. Neph. to S. T. C. Author of an annotated Blackstone, Memoir of John Keble, etc.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. 1772–1834. Poet and philosopher. Author of The Ancient Mariner, Christabel, Kubla Khan, etc., in verse; Lect. on Shakespeare, Table-Talk, The Friend, Biographia Literaria, etc., in prose. A man of great genius, who accomplished little commensurate with it. His best, however, is unsurpassable. See 9 vol. edition, N. Y., 1853-4. See Gilman's Life of; Personal Recollections of Joseph Cottle.

Coleridge, Sara. 1803–1852. Dau. to S. T. C. and wife to H. N. C. Editor of her father's works, and author of the exquisite romance Phantasmion. A writer of much critical ability. See Memoir of. Pub. Har. 1873.

Collier, Jeremy. 1650–1726. Theologian. His famous pamphlet against the immorality of the stage greatly helped to purify Eng. literature.

Collier, John Payne. 1789–1883. Shakespearean scholar. Best known in connection with the famous Collier MSS. of Notes and Emendations to the text of Shakespeare. See Atlantic Monthly, Oct., 1859, and Sept., 1861. Pub. Scr.

Collins, Mortimer. 1827–1876. Novelist. Author Sweet Anne Page, Marquis and Merchant, etc. Pub. Apl. Har.

Collins, Wm. 1720–1756. Poet. Famous for his musical odes, as The Passions, Evening, and the poem How Sleep the Brave. C. occupies a high place among minor poets. See Johnson's Lives of the Poets.

Collins, Wm. Wilkie. 1824 – . Novelist. Excels all other novelists in the construction of plots. The Woman in White is his most famous story. Pub. Har.

Colman, George. 1733–1794. Dramatist. Composed nearly 30 comedies, of which The Jealous Wife is one of the best.

Colman, George. The Younger. 1762–1836. Dramatist. Son to preceding. A writer of spirited comedies, such as The Heir-at-Law, Poor Gentleman, John Bull, The Iron Chest, etc.

Combe [koom], Andrew. 1797–1847. Scotch physiological writer. Pub. Har.

Combe, George. 1788–1858. Scotch phrenologist. Bro. to A. C. Author Constitution of Man, etc. See H. Martineau's Biographical Sketches and Capen's Reminiscences of G. Combe. Pub. Har.

Congreve [kŏng´grēv], Wm. 1670–1729. Dramatist. Author of the tragedy of The Mourning Bride, and of The Double Dealer, Old Bachelor, Love for Love, and other coarse but brilliant comedies. See edition by Leigh Hunt, London, 1849.

Conybeare [kŭn´ĭ-bĕr], John. 1692–1755. Theologian of note.

Conybeare, John Josias. 1779–1824. Grandson to J. C. Antiquary. Author of Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry, a work of much value.

Conybeare, Wm. Daniel. 1787–1857. Geological writer of note.

Conybeare, Wm. John. – 1857. Theologian. Author with Dean Howson of The Life and Epistles of St. Paul. Pub. Ran. Scr.

Cook, Eliza. 1817 – . Poet. Author of The Old Arm Chair, etc. Style simple and tender.

Coombe [koom], Wm. 1741–1823. A voluminous satirical and humorous writer, best known by his poem Dr. Syntax. Pub. Rou.

Cooper, Anthony Ashley. 3d Earl of Shaftesbury. 1671–1713. Ethical writer. Author of Characteristics of Men, etc.

Copleston [kop´ȇl-stȏn], Edward. 1776–1849. Bp. Llandaff. Theological writer.

Corbet, Richard. 1562–1635. Bp. Norwich. Poet of indifferent merit.

Cornwall, Barry. See Procter, B. W.

Coryat, Thomas. 1577–1617. Writer of travels. Best known by Coryat's Crudities, entertaining, but full of affectations.

Costello, Dudley. 1803–1865. Novelist. Author Stories from a Screen, Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady, The Millionaire, etc.

Costello, Louisa Stuart. 1815–1870. Novelist and writer of travels. Sister to D. C. Author of The Queen Mother, the Rose Garden of Persia, etc.

Cottle, Joseph. 1770–1853. Poet. Best known, however, by his Reminiscences of Coleridge and Southey.

Cotton, Charles. 1630–1687. Poet and translator of Montaigne.

Cotton, Nathaniel. 1721–1788. Poet. Author Visions in Verse, Miscellanies.

Cotton, Sir Robert. 1570–1631. Antiquary and historical collector.

Coverdale, Miles. 1487–1568. Bp. Exeter. Translator, with Tyndale, of the Bible. The first translation of the whole Bible was by C., and appeared in 1635.

Cowley, Abraham. 1618–1667. Poet and essayist. His popularity, once great, is now slight. His verse is ingenious, but contains little poetic feeling. His most pretentious poem is The Davideis. See Aikin's edition, 3 vols., 1802.

Cowper [koo´per or kow´per], Wm. 1731–1800. Poet. His verse is mainly religious or didactic, but his humorous ballad of John Gilpin is widely famous. He was the author of many beautiful and well-known hymns, of a long poem, The Task, and the exquisite Lines on My Mother's Picture. Style quiet and meditative. The best edition of C. is that by Southey, with biography, 1838. See Cowper, by Goldwin Smith, in Eng. Men of Letters.

Cox, Sir George W. 1827 – . Historian. Author Hist. of Greece, Mythology of the Aryan Nations, Tales of Ancient Greece, etc. Pub. Apl. Har. Ho.

Coxe, Wm. 1744–1828. Historian. Author Hist. House of Austria, Kings of Spain, Memoirs of Duke of Marlborough, etc. A standard writer. Pub. Apl.

Crabbe, George. 1754–1832. Poet. Writer of realistic, matter-of-fact narrative poems: The Village, The Parish Register, etc. See complete edition of 1834, 8 vols., with Life. See Atlantic Monthly, May, 1880, "A Neglected Poet."

Crabbe, George. 1778–1834. Philologist. Author of Hist. Eng. Law and a noted work on Eng. Synonyms. Pub. Har.

Craig-Knox, Mrs. Isa. 1831 – . Scotch poet. Author Ode to Burns, Duchess Agnes, etc. Pub. Cas.

Craik, Mrs. Dinah Maria Mulock. 1826 – . Novelist and poet. Author of quiet, helpful, earnest stories, among which John Halifax, Gentleman, is the most noted. Others are, A Brave Lady, A Noble Life, A Woman's Kingdom, Mistress and Maid, etc. Philip My King and Douglas are two of her finest poems. Pub. Har. Hou. Mac.

Craik, George Lillie. 1799–1866. Historian. Author of a valuable Hist. Eng. Lit., The English of Shakespeare, Bacon and his Philosophy, etc. See Rolfe's Craik's English of Shakespeare. Pub. Scr.

Cranmer, Thos. 1489–1555. Abp. Canterbury. Theologian. See Archdeacon Todd's Life of, 1831.

Crashaw [crăsh´aw], Richard. c. 1620–1650. Poet. Author of Steps to the Temple, etc. His verse is fanciful and mystical, but always melodious. See Turnbull's complete edition of London, 1858. See G. MacDonald's England's Antiphon and Cornhill Mag., April, 1883.

Creasy, Sir Edward Shepherd. 1812–1878. Historian. Author Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, Hist. Ottoman Turks, Hist. of England. Pub. Ho. Har.

Croker, John Wilson. 1780–1857. Essayist and historical writer. Style caustic and vigorous. See H. Martineau's Biographical Sketches.

Croker, Thos. Crofton. 1798–1854. Irish novelist. Author of romances and fairy tales, the latter of great beauty.

Croly, George. 1780–1860. Irish poet. Author Angel of the World, Catiline, etc. His verse has a showy, tinsel brilliancy. Pub. Har. Rou.

Cruden [kroo´den], Alexander. 1701–1770. Scotch theologian. Famous as the author of the well-known Concordance to the Bible. Pub. Lip. Ran. Wh.

Cudlip, Mrs. Annie Pender, "Annie Thomas." 18 – . Novelist. Author Denis Donne, A Passion in Tatters, Playing for High Stakes, etc. Pub. Har.

Cudworth, Ralph. 1617–1688. Philosopher. His True Intellectual System ranks among Eng. prose classics. See edition 1845, 3 vols.

Cumberland, Richard. 1632–1718. Bp. Peterborough. Philosophical writer.

Cumberland, Richard. 1732–1811. Great-grandson to preceding. Poet and dramatist. Wrote The West Indian, Wheel of Fortune, and other rather sentimental comedies. See edition of his dramas, by Jansen, 1813.

Cumming, John. 1810–1881. Scotch theologian and popular London preacher. Author Apocalyptic Sketches, Fall of Babylon Foreshadowed, etc.

Cunningham, Allan. 1785–1842. Scotch poet and critic. C. wrote many spirited songs, among which A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea is best known. Author Hist. British Painters, Life of Wilkie, etc. See Poems and Songs of, edited by Peter Cunningham, 1847. Pub. Har.

Cunningham, John. 1729–1773. Irish lyrical poet.

Cunningham, John Wm. 1780–1861. Poet.

Cunningham, Peter. 1816–1869. Son to A. C. Antiquary. Author Handbook of London, Modern London, Memoir of J. M. W. Turner, etc.

Dalrymple, Sir David. 1726–1792. Scotch historian. Author Annals of Scotland, etc.

Dalrymple, John Hamilton. 1726–1810. Scotch historian. Author Memoirs of Great Britain.

Daniel, Samuel. 1562–1619. Poet and historian. D. wrote a Hist. of the Civil Wars in 8-line stanzas, also a prose Hist. of England. See Campbell's Specimens of Eng. Poets.

D'Arblay, Madame, née Frances Burney. 1752–1840. Novelist. Author Evelina, Cecilia, Camilla, etc. See her Diary, pub. 1846; also Contemporary Rev., Dec., 1882. Pub. Har. Rob.

Darwin, Chas. Robert. 1809–1882. Naturalist. The most notable scientist of the age, and the originator of the Evolution Theory. He had a clear, well-balanced mind, and his statements are based on careful observation and reflection. Origin of Species, Variation under Domestication, Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals, Descent of Man, Insectivorous Plants, and Movements in Plants are his chief works. See Atlantic Monthly, June, 1882; Century Mag., Jan., 1883. Pub. Apl.

Darwin, Erasmus. 1731–1802. Grandfather to C. D. Poet and physician. Author of The Botanic Garden, a hard, metallic poem of a scientific cast, polished and elaborated to excess. See Miss Seward's Memoirs of; Craik's Eng. Lit., vol. 2; Krause's Life of.

Davenant, Sir Wm. 1605–1688. Dramatist. D. wrote 25 comedies and tragedies, and the long and feeble heroic poem Gondibert. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 2.

Davies, Sir John. 1570–1626. Poet. Author of Nosce Teipsum, a poem on the immortality of the soul, of great power and beauty, and a poetical treatise on dancing, entitled Orchestra. See Grosart's complete edition, 1876. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 1.

Davy, Sir Humphrey. 1778–1829. Chemist. Author Researches Chemical and Philosophical, Elements of Chemical Philosophy, Consolations of Travel, etc. See Life and Works of, by John Davy, 9 vols., London, 1840. Pub. Rob.

Day, Thomas. 1748–1789. Author of the famous juvenile tale Sandford and Merton. Pub. Har. Hou. Rob.

Defoe, Daniel. 1661–1731. Political writer and novelist. His stories form the link connecting the tales and romances of the 17th cent. with the novel of the 18th. Moll Flanders, Capt. Singleton, and Robinson Crusoe are among his chief works. Style lively, rapid, and realistic. See Oxford edition, 20 vols., 1840. See Life, by Lee, 3 vols.; also, Defoe, by Wm. Minto, in Eng. Men of Letters.

Dekker, Thomas. c. 1570–1641. Dramatist. Author Satiriomastix, etc. D. wrote mainly with other dramatists, but so far as his separate work can be traced, it shows tenderness and pathos. See Eng. edition of Dekker, 1873. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 2.

De la Rame [deh-lä-rä-mā´], Louisa, "Ouida." 1840 – . Novelist. Author of Strathmore, Moths, Bebée, Wanda, etc. An entertaining, sprightly writer, of much genius, whose works are of a doubtful moral tendency. Pub. Lip.

De Morgan, Augustus. 1806–1871. Mathematician. Author Essays on Probabilities, Formal Logic, Paradoxes and Problems, etc.

Denham, Sir John. 1615–1668. Poet. His poem Cooper's Hill shows fine descriptive powers. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 2.

Dennis, John. 1657–1734. Dramatist and critic. Author of A Plot and No Plot, Appius and Virginia, The Usefulness of the Stage, The Grounds of Criticism, etc.

De Quincey, Thomas. 1785–1859. Critic and essayist. A great master of Eng. prose. He possessed great acuteness and fine descriptive powers, but lacked creative ability. Confessions of an Opium-Eater and Murder Considered as one of the Fine Arts are two of the best examples of his style. See Page's Life of, 1877; Biographical Sketches by H. Martineau. Pub. Hou.

Derby, Earl of. See Stanley, Edward G. S.

De Redcliffe, Lord Stratford. 1788–1880. Poet and theologian.

De Vere, Sir Aubrey. 1788–1846. Irish poet. Author Julian the Apostate, etc.

De Vere, Aubrey Thos. 1814 – . Irish poet. Son to preceding. Author May Carols, Irish Odes, The Sisters, etc. His verse is pleasing, and possesses merit.

De Vere, Edward. Earl of Oxford. 1545–1604. Poet.

Dibdin, Charles. 1745–1814. Poet and miscellaneous writer. Author of a complete Hist. of the Eng. Stage, but best known by his naval songs, over 1200 in number. For the latter, see Hogarth's edition, 1843.

Dibdin, Thos. 1771–1841. Son to C. D. A prolific song-writer and playwright. Author of a Metrical Hist. of England, etc.

Dibdin, Thos. Frognall. 1776–1847. Bibliographer. Neph. to C. D. Author Bibliomania, Typographical Antiquities of Gt. Britain, Bibliographical Decameron, etc.

Dicey, Edward Stephen. 1832 – . Journalist. Author Memoir of Cavour, Rome in 1860, The Schleswig-Holstein War, etc.

Dick, Thomas. 1772–1857. Scotch writer. The Christian Philosopher is his best known work. Pub. Har. Clx. Phi.

Dickens, Charles. 1812–1870. Novelist. Author of some 30 novels and tales, all bearing marks of genius and originality. He is widely read and admired, and his novels delight readers of all ages. His principal faults consist in elaborating and dwelling on the grotesque and unattractive side of humanity, and in overstraining the pathetic portions of his novels. Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby, Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and the Christmas Carol are among the best of his works. See Fields's Yesterdays with Authors, and Lives by Forster and Mackenzie. Pub. Apt. Est. Har. Hou. Le. Lip. Lit. Pet. Por. Rou. Os.

Digby, Sir Kenelm. 1603–1665. Philosophical writer.

Digby, Kenelm Henry. 1800 – . Archæologist. Author Mores Catholici, The Broad Stone of Honor, etc. An industrious and careful writer.

Dilke, Chas. Wentworth. 1789–1864. Critical writer of note.

Dilke, Sir Chas. Wentworth. 1843 – . Grandson to preceding. Traveler and political writer. Author Greater Britain, The Fall of Prince Florestan of Monaco, etc. Pub. Har. Lip. Mac.

Dillon, Wentworth. Earl of Roscommon. 1633–1684. Poet. Essay on Translated Verse is his chief work. Style elegant and cold.

Disraeli [diz-rā´el-ee], Benj. 1805–1881. Novelist and statesman. Son to I. D. A talented and successful writer, possessed of great energy and strength of will. In his novels the leading people of his time are satirized. Vivian Gray, his first novel, and Endymion, his last, appeared fifty-five years apart. Others are Contarini Fleming, Henrietta Temple, Coningsby, Venetia, Tancred, and Lothair, all brilliant and showy productions. Pub. Apl. Har.

Disraeli, Isaac. 1766–1848. An industrious writer of miscellaneous works, the best known being Curiosities of Lit., Calamities of Authors, Quarrels of Authors, etc. See edition of, by his son, 1850. Pub. Arm. Har. Rou.

Dixon, Wm. Hepworth. 1821–1879. Historian and biographer. Author Personal Hist. of Lord Bacon, New America, Hist. of Two Queens, Her Majesty's Tower, etc. Pub. Har. Lip.

Dobell [dŏ-bell´], Sydney. 1824–1874. Poet. A writer who has an honorable place among modern minor poets. Author of The Roman, Balder, etc. See Stedman's Victorian Poets; Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 4. See complete English edition, 1875; also, Life and Letters of, London, 1879.

Dobson, Austin. 1840 – . Poet and critic. Author Vignettes in Rhyme, Proverbs in Porcelain, etc. An exceedingly graceful writer, whose poems all show a cultivated imagination and much tenderness of expression. Among the best are After Sedan, The Dead Letter, and The Young Musician. Fielding, in Eng. Men of Letters, is his chief prose work. Pub. Ho.

Doddridge, Philip. 1702–1751. Moralist. Author Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, Family Expositor, Hymns, etc. Style plain and simple. See edition of, Leeds, 1802, 10 vols.; also, Life and Correspondence, 5 vols., London, 1831, and Life, by D. A. Harsha.

Dodsley, Robert. 1703–1764. Poet and publisher. Author Economy of Human Life, etc. Best known by his Collection of Old Plays. See edition by W. Carew Hazlitt, 1875.

Donne [dŏn], John. 1573–1631. Poet and theologian. His versification is rugged, and his style obscure and fantastic, but his poems, both religious and amatory, contain much beauty of thought. His seven Satires are vigorous efforts. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 1. See Dean Alford's 6 vol. edition, 8vo, London, 1838. Pub. Hou.

Doran, John. 1807–1878. Biographer. Author Lives of Queens of the House of Hanover, Monarchs Retired from Business, Hist. Court Fools, New Pictures and Old Panels, etc. Pub. Arm.

Dorset, 6th Earl of. See Sackville, Geo.

Dorset, 1st Earl of. See Sackville, Thos. See Buckhurst, Lord.

Douglas, Gawain. 1474–1522. Bp. Dunkeld. Scotch poet. D. was the first metrical translator of Virgil in Gt. Britain. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 1. See complete Eng. edition by J. Small, 1874.

Dowden, Edward. 1843 – . Poet and Shakespearean scholar. Author Shakespeare's Mind and Art, Southey, in Eng. Men of Letters, Poems, etc. Pub. Har.

Drayton, Michael. 1563–1631. Poet. His chief work is the Polyolbion, a poetical description of Britain in 100,000 lines. A far better work is the Nymphidia, an exquisitely graceful, mock heroic fairy poem. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 1.

Drummond, William [of Hawthornden]. 1585–1649. Scotch poet. His Sonnets are his best production. See Memoirs by Masson, 1863. Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 1.

Dryden, John. 1631–1700. Poet and dramatist. His verse takes a wide range: in satire we have Absalom and Achitophel, MacFlecknoe, etc.; in theology, Religio Laici, Hind and Panther, etc.; in drama, some thirty plays; in translation, his Virgil; and in lyric poetry, his magnificent Ode for St. Cecilia's Day. D. had great genius, not always worthily employed. His dramas, when not stilted, are licentious, and as a satirist he is bitter, personal, and coarse. See Masson's Essays, and Lowell's Among My Books; also, Dryden, by Saintsbury, in Eng. Men of Letters. Pub. Hou. Har. Rou.

Dugdale, Sir Wm. 1605–1685. Antiquary. Author Antiquities of Warwickshire, and other valuable antiquarian works.

Dunbar, Wm. 1465–1530. Scotch poet. D. wrote The Thistle and Rose, The Golden Terge, etc. His witty, striking, and original genius is closely akin to that of Burns. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 1.

D'Urfey, Thos. 1650–1723. Dramatist. Witty, but coarse and immoral.

Dutt, Toru. 1856–1877. Hindu poetess. A writer of much genius. Ballads of Hindustan, and Sheafs Gleaned from French Fields, a vol. of fine Eng. translations, are her chief works. See Lit. World, June 17, 1882.

Dyce, Alexander. 1798–1869. Scotch Shakespearean scholar of note. See his edition of Shakespeare, with Glossary, 1867.

Dyer, George. 1755–1841. Author Hist. University of Cambridge, etc.

Dyer, John. 1698–1758. Welsh poet. Author Grongar Hill, The Fleece, and Ruins of Rome. His verse is natural and unaffected. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 3.

Dyer, Thos. Henry. 1804 – . Historian. Author Hist. Modern Europe, Ancient Athens, Hist. Kings of Rome, Hist. City of Rome, and Life of Calvin. Pub. Lit.

Eadmer [ĕd´mer]. – 1124. Bp. St. Andrews. Wrote a Latin Hist. of his Own Time.

Earle, John. 1601–1655. Bp. Worcester. The reputed author of the Micosmography, a remarkable vol. of studies of character.

Eastlake, Sir Chas. 1793–1865. Artist. Author Hist. Gothic Revival, Materials for a Hist. Oil Painting, etc. See Lady Eastlake's Biography of, 1870.

Eden [ē´den], Sir Fred'k Morton. 1766–1809. Author of a valuable Hist. of the Laboring Classes of England, etc.

Edgeworth, Maria. 1767–1849. Novelist. Author Rosamond, Castle Rackrent, Belinda, Helen, etc. Style didactic, but entertaining. Her juvenile tales are numerous and popular. See Study of Miss Edgeworth, by Mrs. Oliver, 1882. Pub. Har. Lip. Rou.