John Hamilton Reynolds Criticism
John Hamilton Reynolds (1794-1852) was an influential English poet, satirist, critic, and playwright, esteemed for his close friendship with the Romantic poet John Keats. Reynolds's correspondence with Keats is pivotal, offering insights into Keats's poetic evolution. Despite being hailed during his lifetime for talents comparable to Keats, Reynolds's own literary career is often overshadowed by this association. He was also recognized for his discerning poetic criticism, notably of William Wordsworth, a relationship that played a significant role in his poetic development.
Reynolds's early works, such as Safie; An Eastern Tale and The Naiad: A Tale. With Other Poems, were well-received, although critics noted his tendency to imitate Byron and Wordsworth, as highlighted in reviews like the Review of Safie; An Eastern Tale and the Review of The Naiad: A Tale. With Other Poems. His parody Peter Bell, a satirical take on Wordsworth, remains one of his best-known works. Reynolds's critical essays and literary contributions to journals such as the Champion further established his reputation as a significant literary voice of his era.
Over time, Reynolds's career included notable collaborations, such as with his brother-in-law Thomas Hood, a partnership explored in John Hamilton Reynolds and Thomas Hood. However, his later years were marked by personal and financial difficulties, and despite his prolific output, his works are rarely studied outside the context of his relationship with Keats.
Critics like George L. Marsh and Leonidas M. Jones have attempted to elevate Reynolds's own literary standing beyond merely being "Keats's close friend." Jones, in particular, emphasized Reynolds's influence on Keats and his role within the wider literary scene, as seen in his many studies including Introduction to The Letters of John Hamilton Reynolds. Despite this, Reynolds's literary contributions are often viewed through the dual lenses of his admiration for Wordsworth and his friendship with Keats, with his correspondence being as highly valued as his poetry.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Review of Safie; An Eastern Tale
(summary)
In the following essay, the reviewer praises the talent Reynolds demonstrates in his first major work but faults the poet for too closely imitating Lord Byron.
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Review of The Naiad: A Tale. With Other Poems.
(summary)
In the following essay, the reviewer admires the story, imagination, and versification of The Naiad, but suggests that Reynolds falters by adopting Wordsworth as his model.
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Introduction to John Hamilton Reynolds: Poetry and Prose
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Marsh characterizes Reynolds as a writer whose taste in poetry exceeded his talent.
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John Hamilton Reynolds and Thomas Hood
(summary)
In the following essay, Morgan discusses the literary collaboration of Reynolds with his brother-in-law Thomas Hood. In this paper I intend to give a chronological account of the relationship between Keats's friend, John Hamilton Reynolds, and Thomas Hood, bringing to light aspects of their careers not dealt with in previous studies.
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Reynolds and Rice in Defence of Patmore
(summary)
In the following essay, Jones relates the details of a legal case that illuminates both Reynolds's career as an attorney and the intense rivalries among the periodicals for which Reynolds often wrote.
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Introduction to The Letters of John Hamilton Reynolds
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Jones presents an overview of Reynolds's literary career.
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Reynolds' ‘The Romance of Youth,’ Hazlitt, and Keats's The Fall of Hyperion
(summary)
In the following essay, Jones compares poems by Reynolds and Keats, noting their similarities and arguing that Reynolds's work came first.
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The Champion—1816-1817
(summary)
In the following essay, Jones highlights Reynolds's years as a literary critic writing for Champion.
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Keats's ‘Robin Hood’, John Hamilton Reynolds, and the ‘Old Poets.’
(summary)
In the following essay, Barnard discusses Keats's debt to Reynolds as evidenced by the former's Robin Hood poems.
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Review of Safie; An Eastern Tale
(summary)
- Further Reading