A Brief Handbook of English Authors

Lower, Mark Antony. 1813–1876. Author Eng. Surnames, Curiosities of Heraldry, Patronymica Britannica, etc.

Lowndes, Wm. Thos.? – 1843. Bibliographer. Author British Librarian and The Bibliographer's Manual.

Lowth [louth], Rob't. 1710–1787. Bp. London. Son to W. L. A classical and theological writer of great learning. See Life, by Peter Hall, 1834.

Lowth, Wm. 1661–1732. Theologian of note.

Lubbock, Sir John. 1834 – . Naturalist. Author Origin of Civilization, Pre-Historic Times, British Wild Flowers, etc. Pub. Apl. Mac.

Lydgate, John. 1370–1450. Poet. An exceedingly diffuse rhymer. See minor works of pub. by the Percy Soc. 1842, and Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. I.

Lyell, Sir Chas. 1797–1875. Geologist. Author Elements of Geology, Travels in N. America, Antiquity of Man, etc. Pub. Apl. Har. Lip.

Lyly or Lily, John. 1553–1598. Dramatic poet. His dramas are forgotten, but his prose romance, Euphues and his England, is remembered for the great influence it had upon the speech of the time. L. was a reformer, though pedantic and fantastic. Euphuism has been ridiculed by Sydney, Jonson, Shakespeare, and Walter Scott. See Collins's Hist. Dramatic Poetry, Lamb's Specimens Early Eng. Poets, and Chas. Kingsley's Westward Ho.

Lyndsay. See Lindsay, David.

Lyte, Henry Francis. 1793–1847. Poet. His hymn, Abide with Me, is widely known. Pub. Le. Ran.

Lyttleton, George, Lord. 1709–1773. Author Dialogues of the Dead, Hist. Henry II., etc. See Life, by Phillimore, 1845.

Lytton. See Bulwer-Lytton.

Macaulay, Mrs. Catherine. 1733–1791. Historian. Author Hist. of England during the Stuart dynasty, etc.

Macaulay, Thos. Babington, Lord. 1800–1859. Poet, essayist, and historian. A brilliant but partisan writer. The impetuous rush and vigor of his Lays of Ancient Rome obscure their poetical defects. His essays are numerous and cover a wide range. His Hist. of England is a superb piece of writing but it lacks the calm impartiality that a history should possess. See Lines by Milman, F. Arnold and G. O. Trevelyan; Macaulay, by J. C. Morrison in Eng. Men of Letters; and H. Martineau's Biographical Sketches. Pub. Apl. Arm. Clx. Har. Hou. Lip. Lit. Por. Rou.

MacDonald, George. 1824 – . Scotch novelist and poet. His work is all of an earnest, religious cast, but marred sometimes by mannerisms and vagueness of touch. Robert Falconer, Alec Forbes, and St. George and St. Michael are the best of his numerous novels. Phantastes contains some of his best poetry. See Lit. World, May 19, 1883. Pub. Apl. Do. Har. Lip. Mac. Rob. Rou. Scr.

Mackarness, Mrs. Henry. 1826–1881. Author of the tale A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam, etc. Pub. Rou.

Mackay, Chas. 1812 – . Scotch poet and miscellaneous writer. Author Town Lyrics, etc. See Poems of, edition 1876. Pub. Rou.

Mackay, Wm. 1803–1882. Philosopher. Author Progress of the Intellect, Eternal Gospel, etc.

Mackenzie, Sir George. 1636–1691. Scotch miscellaneous writer. A voluminous author of much eminence in his day.

Mackenzie, Henry. Scotch novelist and essayist. Author the famous novel, The Man of Feeling, etc. See collected works, 1808. Pub. Har.

Mackintosh, Sir James. 1765–1832. Ethical and historical writer. See Memoirs by his son. Pub. Har.

Macklin, Chas. 1690–1797. Irish dramatist. Author of the bright comedy, The Man of the World. M. appeared on the stage as an actor till nearly 100. See Memoirs of, 1804.

Macleod [măk-lowd´], Norman. 1812–1872. Scotch miscellaneous writer. Author of The Starling, Reminiscences of a Highland Parish, etc. See Life by his brother, and Memoir by Alex. Strahan. Pub. Do. Lip. Rou.

Macneil, Hector. 1746–1818. Scotch poet. Author Will and Jean, etc.

Macpherson, James. 1738–1796. Scotch poet. Supposed author of a series of poems purporting to be by Ossian, an ancient Gaelic bard. These forgeries were immensely popular in spite of their wild and over-strained diction. M. never revealed the secret of their authorship. See H. Morley's Shorter Eng. Poems.

Macquoid, Mrs. Katherine S. 18 – . Novelist. Author Patty, Beside the River, Too Soon, etc., and several vols. of travel, Through Normandy, Through Brittany, etc. Pub. Apl. Har. Lip. Mac. Ran. Rou.

Madden, Richard Robert. 1798 – . Poet and miscellaneous writer. Author The Infirmities of Genius, etc.

Magee, Wm. 1765–1831. Abp. Dublin. Theologian. His best known work is the Discourses on the Atonement. See complete works, 1842.

Magee, Wm. Connor. 1821 – . Bp. Peterborough. Grandson to Wm. M. Religious writer. Author Sermons, Lectures, etc. Style eloquent and forcible.

Maginn, Wm. 1793–1842. Irish humorist. Style learned, witty, and brilliant. See Works, edited by R. S. Mackenzie, 5 vols., N. Y. 1857. Pub. Wid.

Mahaffey, John Peytland. 1839 – . Author Hist. Classical Greek Lit., Old Greek Life, Rambles and Studies in Greece, Greek Social Life, Old Greek Education, etc. Pub. Apl. Har. Mac.

Mahoney, Francis, "Father Prout." 1805–1866. Irish poet and journalist. M. wrote the noted poem, The Bells of Shandon.

Maine, Sir Henry James Sumner. 1822 – . Jurist. Author Roman Law, Ancient Law, Village Communities, Early Hist. of Institutions, etc. Pub. Ho.

Maitland, Edward. 18 – . Novelist. Author The Higher Law, The Pilgrim and the Shrine, and By-and-By. Pub. Put.

Maitland, Sir Richard. 1496–1586. Scotch poet.

Malcolm, Sir John. 1769–1833. Diplomatist. Author Hist. of Persia, Political Hist. India, Life of Lord Clive, etc. See Kaye's Life of, London, 1856.

Mallet, David. 1700–1765. Scotch poet. Author Ballads, etc.

Mallock, Wm. Hurrel. 1849 – . Novelist. Author Is Life Worth Living, The New Republic, Positivism on an Island, Romance of the 19th Cent., etc. A writer of much force and originality.

Malmesbury, Wm. of. 1095? -1143. Anglo-Norman historian.

Malone, Edmund. 1741–1812. Shakespearean scholar. Editor of the edition of 1790. See Life, by Prior, 1860.

Malory, Sir Thomas. 1430? -1496. Author or translator of the famous romance, The Morte d'Arthur. Pub. Mac.

Malthus, Thos. Robt. 1766–1834. Political economist. Author of a celebrated Essay on the Principle of Population. See Life, by Otter, 1836.

Mandeville, Bernard. 1670–1733. Philosopher. Author of the noted Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices Public Benefits, etc. See Craik's Eng. Lit. vol. 2.

Mandeville, Sir John. 1300–1372. "The first writer in formed English." He traveled extensively and wrote an entertaining account of his travels.

Manley, Mrs. Mary de la Riviere. 1672–1724. Novelist and dramatist. She wrote the noted political satire, The New Atlantis.

Manners, John Lord. 1818 – . Poet. Author England's Trust, English Ballads, etc.

Manning, Anne. 1807 – . Novelist. Author Mary Powell, Household of Sir Thos. More, Passages in the Life of the Faire Gospeller, etc. Pub. Do.

Manning, Henry Edw., Cardinal. 1808 – . Theologian. Author Temporal Power of the Pope, Parochial Sermons, The Vatican Decrees, etc. See Century Mag. May, 1883. Pub. Apl. Sad.

Mannyng, Robert. fl. c. 1340. Rhyming chronicler.

Mansel, Henry Longueville. 1820–1871. Philosopher. Author The Limits of Religious Thought, Philosophy of Consciousness, Bampton Lect., 1858, etc. Pub. Apl. Mac.

Mant, Richard. 1776–1848. Bp. Killaloe. Religious writer. Author Poems, Hist. Ch. of Ireland, etc.

Mantell, Gideon Algernon. 1790–1852. Geological writer of note. Author Thoughts on a Pebble, Medals of Creation, etc.

Map, or Mapes, Walter. 1150–1196. Anglo-Norman poet and romancer.

Marlowe, Christopher. 1564–1593. Dramatist and poet. The greatest dramatist before Shakespeare. His Tamburlaine was the first blank verse play acted. Faustus, Jew of Malta, and Edward II. are powerful dramas. The influence of Marlowe is traceable in several of Shakespeare's plays. See editions by Cunningham and Dyce. See Schlegel's Dramatic Lit. Pub. Mac. Rou.

Marryatt, Frederick. 1792–1849. Marine novelist. Peter Simple, Jacob Faithful, and Midshipman Easy are among the best of his novels. They are lively, inartistic tales, full of broad fun and drollery. See Life, by his daughter Florence, 1872. Pub. Apl. Har. Lip. Rob.

Marryatt, Florence. See Ross-Church, Mrs.

Marsh, Mrs. Anne Caldwell.? – 1874. Novelist. Author Ravenscliffe, Emilia Wyndham, Lettice Arnold, etc. Pub. Har.

Marsh, Herbert. 1757–1839. Bp. Peterborough. A profound writer on politics and divinity. Author of a noted Hist. of the Politics of Gt. Britain and France.

Marston, John. 1575–1634. Dramatist and satirist. See Halliwell's edition, 3 vols., London, 1856.

Marston, Philip Bourke. 1850 – . Poet. Son to W. M. Author Song-Tide, All in All, etc., and of numerous sketches and tales. His verse is strongly subjective in tone. See Stedman's Victorian Poets.

Marston, Westland. 1820 – . Dramatist and poet. The Patrician's Daughter is one of his best plays.

Martin, Theodore. 1816 – . Translator and biographer. Author of Life of the Prince Consort, etc., and with W. E. Aytoun of the Bon Gualtier Ballads. See The Biograph, Jan. 1879. Pub. Apl. Por.

Martineau, Harriet. 1802–1876. Miscellaneous writer. Her illustrations of political economy are in the form of fiction. Deerbrook and The Hour and the Man are her most noted romances. Style strong, clear, and original. See Autobiography, 1876. Pub. Har. Ho. Mac. Por. Rob. Rou.

Martineau, James. 1805 – . Theologian. Bro. to H. M. A leader of Unitarian thought. Author Studies of Christianity, Hymns of Praise and Prayer, Religious and Modern Materialism, Endeavors after a Christian Life, etc. Pub. Ho. Put. Rob. A. U. A.

Marvell, Andrew. 1620–1678. Poet and controversialist. As the former he ranks among the first of the minor poets of his time. His fancy is delicate and quaint. See Ward's Eng. Poets, vol. 2. Pub. Har.

Marzials, Théophile. 1850 – . Poet and musician. Author of The Gallery of Pigeons, etc. Of his songs Twickenham Ferry is one of the best known. See The Biograph, March, 1880.

Mason, Wm. 1725–1797. Poet. His verse is wordy and feeble.

Massey, Gerald. 1828 – . Poet. Author Babe Christabel, Craigcrook Castle, etc. His verse has more sweetness than strength. See Stedman's Victorian Poets.

Massinger [măs´sĭn-jĕr], Philip. 1584–1640. A writer of much power whose style is clear and flexible. The Virgin Martyr, Fatal Dowry, City Madam, and A New Way to Pay Old Debts, are his finest plays. The latter is often acted. See Works of, edited by Gifford, 4. vols.

Masson, David. 1822 – . Scotch biographer and critic. Author British Novelists, Biographical and Critical Essays, Recent British Philosophy, etc. His chief work is a Life of Milton, a book of great merit and ability. See The Biograph, vol. 3. Pub. Mac. Apl.

Mathers, Helen. See Reeves, Mrs.

Mathias, Thos. James. 1776–1835. Supposed author of the poem The Pursuits of Literature.

Maturin [măt-yoo´rĭn], Chas. Robert. 1782–1824. Irish novelist. Author Melmoth, an extravagant romance, and the tragedy of Bertram.

Maurice [maw´rĭss], John Frederic Denison. 1805–1872. Theologian and ethical writer. A prominent Broad Church clergyman, writing much and well upon theology, philosophy, and other subjects. A Hist. Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy is his chief work. Others are Theological Essays, The Bible and Science, and the Friendship of Books. Pub. Le. Mac.

Maxwell, James Clerk. 1831 – . Scientific writer of note. Pub. Apl. Mac.

Maxwell, Mrs. Mary E. [Braddon]. 1837 – . Novelist. A writer of sensational tales, among which Aurora Floyd is the most famous. Her latest novels show a greatly improved style. Pub. Har.

Maxwell, Wm. Hamilton. 1794–1850. Irish novelist. His fiction is military in character. Pub. Rou.

Maxwell, Sir Wm. Stirling. 1818–1878. Author The Cloister Life of Chas. V., Velasquez and his Works, etc.

May, Sir Thos. Erskine. 1815 – . Historian. Author Constitutional Hist. England, Hist. Democracy in Europe, etc. Style careful and thoughtful. See Lit. World, April, 1878, and The Biograph, March, 1880. Pub. Arm. Wid.

Mayhew, Augustus. 1812–1875. Littérateur.

Mayhew, Edward. 1813 – . Veterinary writer. Bro. to A. M. Author Illustrated Horse Doctor, etc. Pub. Apl. Lip. Rou.

Mayhew, Henry. 1812–1876. Bro. to two preceding. Author London Labor and London Poor, German Life and Manners and numerous humorous works. Pub. Har. Rou.

Mayhew, Horace. 1819–1872. Humorist. Bro. to three preceding. Author Letters Left at the Pastry Cook's, etc.

Mayhew, Thomas. 1810 – . Bro. to four preceding. Editor of the Penny National Library.

Mayne, John. 1761–1836. Scotch poet. Author of The Siller Gun, Logan Braes, etc.

Mayo, Mrs. Isabella Fyvie, "Edward Garrett." 1843 – . Religious novelist. Author By Still Waters, Occupations of a Retired Life, Gold and Dross, etc. Pub. Do.

McCarthy, Denis Florence. 1820–1880. Poet and miscellaneous writer. Author Ballads, Poems, and other Lyrics, etc., and translator of the dramas of Calderon.

McCarthy, Justin. 1830 – . Novelist and historian. Author Linley Rochford, Dear Lady Disdain, etc., and of a valuable Hist. of Our Own Times. Style graphic and forcible. Pub. Har.

McCulloch, John Ramsay. 1789–1864. Political economist. Author Principles of Political Economy, Dict. of Commerce, Statistical Account of the British Empire, etc.

Melmoth, Wm. 1710–1799. Translator of Pliny. Author Lælius, or Friendship, etc.

Melville, Sir James. 1535–1606. Scotch writer. Author Historical Memoirs.

Melville, J. G. Whyte. 1821–1878. Novelist. Author Kate Coventry, The White Rose, Katerfelto, etc. Style rapid and spirited. Pub. Apl. Por.

Meredith, Owen. See Bulwer-Lytton, E. R.

Merivale, Chas. 1808–1874. Historian. Author Hist. Latin Christianity, Fall of the Roman Republic, Hist. of the Romans under the Empire, etc. A writer of much ease and dignity of style, whose historical estimates are careful and valuable. Pub. Apl. Har. Rou.

Merivale, Herman. 1806–1874. Historical writer. Bro. to C. M.

Merrick, James. 1720–1769. Poet. His poem The Chameleon is well known.

Miall, Edward. 1809–1881. Political writer. Author Ethics of Non-Conformity, The Voluntary Principle, etc.

Mickle, Wm. Julius. 1734–1788. Scotch poet. His poem, Cumnor Hall, suggested Scott's Kenilworth. See Works of, 1808.

Middleton, Conyers. 1683–1750. Theologian. M. wrote a Life of Cicero and a Free Inquiry into the Miraculous Powers of the Church.

Middleton, Thomas. 1570–1627. Dramatist. The Witch of Edmonton, a tragi-comedy, is his most noted play. See Dyce's edition, 1840.

Mill, James. 1773–1836. Scotch historian and philologist. Author of an impartial Hist. British India, Analysis of the Mind, etc.

Mill, John Stuart. 1806–1873. Philosopher. Son to J. M. A profound but cold thinker and writer. Author System of Logic, Political Economy, Liberty, Subjection of Women, etc. See Autobiography, Table's Eng. Lit., and Caroline Fox's Memories of old Friends. Pub. Apl. Har. Ho. Lit.

Miller, Hugh. 1802–1856. Geologist. Author Old Red Sandstone, Footprints of the Creator, etc., works which greatly helped to popularize the study of geology. See Life, by Peter Bayne. Pub. Ca.

Miller, Thomas. 1808 – . Poet and novelist. Author Rural Sketches, Country Scenes, Fair Rosamond, Songs for British Riflemen, etc. Pub. Rou.

Milman, Henry Hart. 1791–1868. Poet and historian. M. was author of Fazio, a successful drama, of an excellent Hist. of the Jews, of numerous poems, and editor of an annotated Gibbon. Pub. Arm. Har. Lit. Por. Put. Rou.

Milnes [milnz], Richard Monckton, Lord Houghton. 1809 – . Poet and littérateur. Author Poems of Many Years, Life of Keats, etc. See Stedman's Victorian Poets. Pub. Rob.

Milton, John. 1608–1674. Poet. His literary life sharply defines itself into 3 periods; in the first, 1626–1640, he wrote the poems L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, the Pastoral of Comus, and the elegy Lycidas. During the second, 1640–1660, he wrote prose treatises, mainly controversial, such as the Areopagitica, and his sonnets. After 1660 came the great epics, Paradise Lost, and Paradise Regained, and the choral drama Samson Agonistes. A great artist, he created the Eng. epic, infusing it with his own severe strength and dignity. He had no humor or feeling for dramatic situation but he could be both graceful and tender as his early poems show. He was the great Puritan poet. Of the numerous Lives of Milton the best are, Masson's and Mark Pattison's Milton in Eng. Men of Letters. Pickering's, Rossetti's and Masson's are among the best editions of his poems. For complete edition of his prose works see Bohn's Standard Library. See Hines's Study of Paradise Lost. Pub. Mac.

Minto, Wm. 1845 – . Littérateur. Author Characteristics of Eng. Poets, from Chaucer to Shirley, Manual of Eng. Prose Lit., Defoe in Eng. Men of Letters, etc. Pub. Har.

Mitford, John. 1781–1859. Poet and critic.

Mitford, Mary Russell. 1786–1855. Miscellaneous writer. Author of the tragedies Julian, Rienzi, Foscari, etc., and the charming series of those sketches entitled Our Village. See Fields' Yesterdays with Authors, and The Friendships of Mary Russell Mitford. Pub. Har.

Mitford, Wm. 1744–1827. Historian. Author Hist. of Greece, etc. See Life, by Lord Redesdale.

Mivart, St. George. 1827 – . Naturalist. Author The Genesis of Species, Contemporary Evolution, The Cat, etc. Pub. Apl. Mac. Scr.

Moberly, Geo. 1803 – . Bp. Salisbury. Religious writer. Pub. Dut.

Moir [moi´ȇr], David Macbeth. 1798–1851. Scotch poet and novelist.

Molesworth, Mrs. Mary Louisa [Stewart], "Ennis Graham." 1841 – . Scotch novelist. Author of the novels Hathercourt and Miss Bouverie, and of numerous excellent juvenile works of which The Cuckoo Clock, Carrots, and The Tapestry Room are well-known examples. See The Spectator, Jan. 1880, Jan. 1881, and Jan. 1882. Pub. Har. Ho. Mac. Rou.

Monboddo, Lord. See Burnet, James.

Montagu, Chas. Earl of Halifax. 1661–1715. Poet. Co-author with Prior of The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, and author of miscellaneous poems. See Johnson's Lives of the Poets.

Montagu, Mrs. Elizabeth. 1720–1800. Founder of the Blue Stocking Club and author of a once famous essay on the Genius of Shakespeare. See Doran's A Lady of the Last Century.

Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley. 1690–1762. Famous for her brilliant and satirical Letters. See Letters of, edited by Mrs. S.J. Hale, N. Y., 1856.

Montgomery [mȏnt-gŭm-ĕr-ĭ], James. 1771–1854. Scotch poet. His verse is not strong, but some of his hymns are general favorites. See Critical Essays, by A. K. H. Boyd. Pub. Hou. Rou.

Montgomery, Robert. 1808–1855. Poet. Author Satan, etc. Style stilted, showy, and unnatural. See Macauley's Miscellaneous Essays.

Montrose, Marquis of. See Grahame, James.

Moore, Edward. 1712–1757. Dramatist. Author of the tragedy, The Gamester.

Moore, John. 1730–1802. Scotch novelist. Author Zeluco, Edward, Mordaunt, etc. See Works, with Memoir, 7 vols., Edinburgh, 1820.

Moore, Thomas. 1779–1852. Irish poet. Author of Irish Melodies, which take high rank as lyrics, Lalla Rookh, a vol. of brilliant and showy oriental poetry, and of much other verse, as well as several prose works. Though by no means a great poet, he has always been a popular one. See R. H. Montgomery's Life of, 1850; also Earl Russell's edition of Moore's Diary. Pub. Apl. Arm. Clx. Har. Hou. Le. Lip. For. Rou. Scr.

More, Hannah. 1745–1833. Dramatist and ethical writer. Author of Percy, a drama, and of numerous popular moral tales, of which The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain is the most famous. See complete works, 1853. See Lives by Shaw, Roberts, Thompson, and Smith. Pub. Ca. Har. Lip.

More, Henry. 1614–1687. Philosopher. A writer whose mystical theories are expressed in a clear, limpid style.

More, Sir Thomas. 1480–1530. Philosopher. His famous prose romance, The Utopia, embodies many of his philosophical views. See Life by Sir James Mackintosh. Pub. Mac.

Morell, Thomas. 1703–1784. Philologist. Author of the text of the Oratorios of Joshua and Judas Maccabæus.

Morgan, Lady Sydney Owenson. 1783–1859. Irish novelist. Author Wild Irish Girl, Absenteeism, etc. A voluminous author, spirited but wanting in refinement.

Morier, James. 1780–1849. Oriental novelist. Hajji Baba is his most noted work. Pub. Rou.

Morley, Henry. 1822 – . Author Hist. Eng. Lit., Tables of Eng. Lit., Journal of a London Playgoer, Life of Palissy the Potter, etc. Pub. Cas.

Morley, John. 1838 – . Essayist and biographer. Author Lives of Voltaire and Rousseau, Limits of the Historic Method, On Compromise, Burke on Eng. Men of Letters, etc. Pub. Apl. Har.

Morris, Wm. 1834 – . The Defence of Guinevere, Life and Death of Jason, and The Earthly Paradise are his chief poems. His verse is mainly classical or mediæval in subject and epic in form. See Stedman's Victorian Poets and Swinburne's Essays and Studies. Pub. Rob.

Mortimer, Mrs. Favell Lee. 1802–1878. Religious writer. Author Reading Without Tears, Peep of Day Series, etc. Pub. Ca. Har. Hou.

Morton, Thomas. 1764–1838. Dramatist. Author Speed the Plough, Secrets Worth Knowing, etc. See Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 1838.