John Dryden 1631 - 1700 Editorial Photo

The Harmsworth Encyclopaedia 1930s / 1940s - John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was appointed England`s first Poet Laureate in 1668. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden. As a poet, Dryden is best known as a satirist and was England`s first poet laureate in 1668. In addition to satires, Dryden wrote elegies, prologues, epilogues, odes, and panegyrics. His most famous poem is Absalom and Achitophel 1681. 17th century poet.