ISBN: 9781459070455

Alfred,Paperback, English-language edition,Pub by General Books LLC Books Books English-Belles-Lettres-from-AD-907-to-1834~~Alfred General Books LLC Purchase of this book includes free tr… More...

Alfred,Paperback, English-language edition,Pub by General Books LLC Books Books English-Belles-Lettres-from-AD-907-to-1834~~Alfred General Books LLC Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE STEEL GLASS A SATIRE GEORGE GASCOIGNE GEORGE GASCOIGNE There is something zestful in finding an aristocrat and courtier scolding his class in a stinging satire, which happens to be the first of its kind in English literature. Gascoigne was an esquire, the son of an esquire, born in 1535. There was a spirit-stirring quality in the air in those early Elizabethan days that told in restless lives, that found joy in adventure and solace in singing the sweetest carols we possess. This young fellow embarked in the law, but was disinherited as a spendthrift. Then he went to Holland as a soldier of fortune under the Prince of Orange. After capture and imprisonment he settled for a while in England and began his brilliant career as poet, dramatist, and in satirical pamphleteering. His book of "Posies "came out in 1574, made up of poetical "Floures, Herbes, and Weedes." Another book was in praise of hunting and hawking. His "Complaint of Philomene" was followed by "A Delicate Diet for Daintie Mouthde Droonkards." The Queen took him into favor, and he wrote some of the Masques performed at the Kenilworth festivities and at other great houses. His dramas are not accessible in a collected form. The "Steel Glass " is one of the most powerful and admirable satires ever penned. There is the true ring of patriotism in every line. It is also poetry. The steel mirror he prefers to the glass kind because it gives a truer reflection, and he is determined that kings and nobles, country squires, traders and producers, priests, magistrates, lawyers, and other folks shall see themselves as he sees them. His poem makes excellent tonic reading for us of to-day. It has the merit of hitting fair blows with the best intent, and is a fine example of sturdy English in its early strength. ...<

2009, ISBN: 9781459070455

Softcover, Buch, [PU: General Books]