Dryden, John
Dryden, John (1631–1700).The foremost literary figure of his age, Dryden wrote drama, poetry, and prose. He was a strong supporter of the Stuart monarchs and was named Poet Laureate by Charles II. He held this office until William and Mary came to the throne in 1688. Several of Dryden's plays are closely connected to Shakespeare's works. He collaborated with Sir William Davenant on an adapation of The Tempest (1667), and returned to Shakespeare in All for Love; or, The World Well Lost (1678), often considered his finest play. All for Love is not an adaptation of Shakespeare; rather, Dryden created a Restoration play based on the story of Antony and Cleopatra. He hoped ‘to imitate the Divine Shakespeare’ in his style, choosing to abandon rhyme for the first time in his serious drama. The following year, Dryden adapted Troilus and Cressida as Troilus and Cressida; or, Truth Found Too Late (1679)....
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