Gascoigne, George
Gascoigne, George (1542–77).At various times a law student, courtier, farmer, and soldier, Gascoigne was also a highly innovative poet and dramatist. Whilst fighting in the Dutch wars, he published A Hundred Sundry Flowers (1572), a collection of poetry and prose including one of the earliest English novels, The Adventures of Master F.J., which tells the story of an adulterous affair and was condemned as libellous. Gascoigne returned to England in 1574 to a scandal and had to revise the edition, republishing it the following year as The Posies. He then worked hard to improve his reputation, publishing many didactic works whilst finding increasing favour for his poetry. On the brink of triumph, having just acquired a wealthy patron, poetic fame, and a position at court, Gascoigne died. He was a pioneer in various genres including satire, literary criticism, and drama. Jocasta (1566) is the first recorded English...
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