Representative Authors
Daniel Defoe (1660–1731)
Daniel Defoe created his most significant works during the Augustan Age, a
period named for writers who aimed to imitate the style of original Augustan
authors like Vergil and Horace. He is also credited with helping to develop the
English novel. Throughout his life, he worked as a journalist, pamphleteer, and
essayist, providing social commentary for the merchant class. Defoe’s writings
are emblematic of the neoclassical era, characterized by their instructional
and intellectual nature. He wrote seamlessly on topics such as politics,
religion, and economics, as well as fiction, using several neoclassical
techniques, including satire and the epic form.
Experts believe Defoe was born around 1660, the year that initiated the neoclassical age. His parents, James Foe, a tradesman and merchant, and Alice Foe, raised him, although it remains unclear why Daniel added the “De” to his surname. Despite his father's modest success, he couldn't afford to send Daniel to the top schools, as they were Dissenters—a religious group that did not adhere to the Church of England. In adulthood, Defoe worked in various fields, including land speculation, imports, invention, and other ventures.
During Defoe’s lifetime, England's political landscape was dominated by the monarchy and the Anglican Church. Like his father, Defoe was a Dissenter and felt compelled to defend his faith. He participated in several uprisings and, after showing support during the Glorious Revolution, was rewarded with several positions, serving William of Orange from 1689 to 1702.
Defoe’s religious convictions inspired many of his writings, including numerous political pieces, pamphlets, and satirical poems. His 1702 satire, The Shortest-Way with Dissenters; or, Proposals for the Establishment of the Church, which advocated for religious liberty, brought him fame. However, this work led to charges of libel, a fine, and imprisonment until Robert Harley negotiated his release in 1703 in exchange for Defoe's services as a pamphleteer and covert government propagandist, a role he held for nearly a decade.
In 1704, Defoe launched a triweekly journal titled A Review of the Affairs of France, with Observations on Transactions at Home. Although he likely felt compelled to favor the government, his employer, the journal was still a crucial outlet for his ideas. Within its pages, Defoe shared his opinions on various subjects, including politics, economics, morality, and religion. His reporting style, social commentary, advice columns, and other elements made A Review of the Affairs of France, with Observations on Transactions at Home a pioneering publication for modern journalism.
The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner, more commonly known today as Robinson Crusoe, was released in 1719. This debut novel by Defoe remains his most famous work. Defoe also penned several other novels such as Moll Flanders, Colonel Jack, and Roxana, all of which continue to be published.
Defoe passed away on April 26, 1731, in Moorfields, London, England.
John Dryden (1631–1700)
John Dryden, a prominent figure of the Restoration Age, was a remarkable writer
whose adaptability is seldom equaled, and his contributions significantly
altered the trajectory of English literary history. He created a vast array of
works, including satires, comedies, tragedies, lyric poetry, farces,
translations, literary criticism, political poetry, and essays. Regarded by
some scholars as England’s pioneering verse satirist, Dryden’s refinement of
the verse satire and his use of the heroic couplet were influential for the
following century.
Born in 1631 in Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire, England, Dryden was the son of landowners Erasmus Dryden and Mary Pickering. He received a classical education, first at Westminster School and later at Trinity College, Cambridge, starting in 1650. Throughout his academic...
(This entire section contains 1378 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
career, Dryden earned acclaim for his poetry, winning several awards for his compositions. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1654, the same year his father passed away.
After graduating, Dryden left Trinity and eventually secured a civil servant role in London under Oliver Cromwell. His first significant poem, written in response to Cromwell’s death, was titled “Heroique Stanzas to the Glorious Memory of Cromwell” in 1659. This was followed by more poems, but his first major poetic work was “Annus Mirabilis.” Comprising 304 quatrains, the poem chronicled English history, including a recent war, plague, and the Great Fire. His first notable satire, Mac Flecknoe, was published in 1682.
By 1663, Dryden had ventured into playwriting. His initial play was The Wild Gallant, followed by The Rival Ladies, The Indian Queen, and The Indian Emperour. In 1668, he published a critical essay titled Of Dramatick Poesie: An Essay, which laid the groundwork for his future dramatic pieces. Companion essays were published in 1668, A Defence of an Essay of Dramatick Poesie, and in 1672, Of Heroique Playes, both addressing criticisms from Sir Robert Howard regarding Dryden’s theatrical methods.
Of Heroique Playes reflects Dryden's keen interest in crafting an original epic, as does his Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress of Satire (1692). Although he never managed to write an epic, many other significant works followed.
By 1668, Dryden had become England's foremost playwright. Shortly after Charles II was restored to the throne, Dryden was named poet laureate. For the rest of his life, he continued to create critical works that responded to the evolving nature of literary form. Additionally, he wrote some of his most acclaimed poetry, such as "To the Memory of Mr. Oldham" in 1684, and experimented with the beast fable genre. Dryden passed away on May 1, 1700, and was laid to rest in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey.
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Although the Age of Johnson signaled the decline of Neoclassicism, Samuel
Johnson remains a significant figure of the period. Johnson was a multifaceted
talent, excelling as a lexicographer, translator, journalist/essayist, travel
writer, biographer, editor, and critic. He brought a unique vigor and
enthusiasm to the neoclassical era, along with an appreciation for nature and
rural life, and a broadening scope of intellectual pursuits.
Born to Michael and Sarah Ford Johnson in 1709 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Johnson faced numerous health challenges during his early years. Financial difficulties plagued his family, creating a tense environment. Despite these hardships, Johnson displayed remarkable intelligence at Lichfield Grammar School. He later attended Stourbridge Grammar School, where he would eventually work.
Johnson's first poem, "On a Daffodil, the First Flower the Author Had Seen That Year," was written in 1724. During his time at Stourbridge, he focused on translating specific books of the Iliad and composed several poems that showcased his talent through experimentation with poetic forms, diction, and rhythm. In 1728, Johnson enrolled at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he continued to demonstrate his innate skill for writing poetry with impressive speed and accuracy.
Johnson's professional writing career began when he moved to London in 1737 to complete and promote his blank-verse tragedy Irene. He soon started writing for Gentleman’s Magazine, producing light verse, as well as Latin and Greek epigrams. To craft his first independent work, Johnson embraced a popular contemporary poetic style—imitation. This art form allowed him creative freedom in translating the works of others. Johnson chose the Latin poet Juvenal and imitated his Satura III, focusing on urban life in London. London: A Poem, in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal was published in May 1738, followed closely by One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight, another imitation. The success of these poems led to further adaptations of Juvenal’s works and a continuous flow of poetry from Johnson.
Johnson dedicated the next fifteen to twenty years to his career as a hack writer and journalist. Throughout the mid-1740s, he contributed reviews, translations, and articles to the Gentlemen’s Magazine. During this period, his output was mainly prose, but he also revised several poems, including “The Young Author,” “Ode to Friendship,” and “To Laura.” These poems appeared in the magazine in 1743, alongside Latin translations such as The Vanity of the Human Wishes and Satura X.
Later in life, Johnson received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Oxford in 1755 for his work on the Dictionary of the English Language. In 1765, Trinity College, Dublin, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. By the time of his death on December 13, 1784, Johnson had secured his place in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey, close to Shakespeare’s monument. Esteemed by critics as a master of heroic-couplet verse, Johnson is celebrated for his significant contributions to literature, standing alongside Pope and Dryden. His works and ideas helped pave the way for English Romanticism.
