John Dryden

Author Code: EJDX

Educated at Westminster and at Trinity College, Cambridge, Dryden began writing poetry when in his 20's. With the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Dryden's career began in earnest. He published Astraea Redux in 1660 and a Pangyric on the Restoration in 1661. The Indian Emperor (1665) concerning the conquest of Montezuma and Mexico by Cortez was very popular at the time. He produced numerous plays and dramas for the stage, the best of which is All For Love (1677). He was appointed poet laureate in 1668. Dryden was also an experienced literary critic and a translator of classical works. The complete collected works of Dryden was published by Sir Walter Scott in 1808.