About Author

John Dryden (1631 1700) was a towering figure of English literature during the Restoration period, known for his work as a poet, playwright, translator, satirist, and critic.He was born on 9 August 1631 in Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire, England, and educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge.Dryden was appointed Poet Laureate in 1668, reflecting his prominence at the royal court. His literary range was vast: he wrote heroic plays (e.g., The Conquest of Granada), comic dramas (e.g., Marriage à la Mode), blank-verse tragedies (e.g., All for Love) and important critical essays like Of Dramatick Poesie. As a critic, he helped shape English literary theory; his prose in prefaces and essays is highly regarded. He was also a prolific translator, rendering works by Virgil, Horace, Juvenal, Ovid and others into English In his poetry, Dryden is celebrated for perfecting the heroic couplet a style that deeply influenced later English poets like Alexander Pope. His major works include Absalom and Achitophel (satire), Mac Flecknoe, Annus Mirabilis, and Fables, Ancient and Modern. He died on 1 May 1700, and his influence on English literature, especially in poetry and dramatic theory, remains profound.