1.
Voltaire
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Voltaire was a versatile writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. He wrote more than 21,000 letters and over two books and pamphlets. He was an advocate of civil liberties, despite the risk this placed him in under the strict censorship laws of the time. As a satirical polemicist, he made use of his works to criticize intolerance, religious dogma. Some speculation surrounds Voltaires date of birth, because he claimed he was born on 20 February 1694 as the son of a nobleman. Two of his older brothers—Armand-François and Robert—died in infancy and his brother, Armand. Nicknamed Zozo by his family, Voltaire was baptized on 22 November 1694, with François de Castagnère, abbé de Châteauneuf, and Marie Daumard, the wife of his mothers cousin, standing as godparents. He was educated by the Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, where he was taught Latin, theology, and rhetoric, later in life he became fluent in Italian, Spanish, and English. By the time he left school, Voltaire had decided he wanted to be a writer, against the wishes of his father, Voltaire, pretending to work in Paris as an assistant to a notary, spent much of his time writing poetry. When his father out, he sent Voltaire to study law. Nevertheless, he continued to write, producing essays and historical studies, Voltaires wit made him popular among some of the aristocratic families with whom he mixed. In 1713, his father obtained a job for him as a secretary to the new French ambassador in the Netherlands, the marquis de Châteauneuf, at The Hague, Voltaire fell in love with a French Protestant refugee named Catherine Olympe Dunoyer. Their scandalous affair was discovered by de Châteauneuf and Voltaire was forced to return to France by the end of the year, Most of Voltaires early life revolved around Paris. From early on, Voltaire had trouble with the authorities for critiques of the government and these activities were to result in two imprisonments and a temporary exile to England. One satirical verse, in which Voltaire accused the Régent of incest with his own daughter, the Comédie-Française had agreed in January 1717 to stage his debut play, Œdipe, and it opened in mid-November 1718, seven months after his release. Its immediate critical and financial success established his reputation, both the Régent and King George I of Great Britain presented Voltaire with medals as a mark of their appreciation. He mainly argued for tolerance and freedom of thought. He campaigned to eradicate priestly and aristo-monarchical authority, and supported a constitutional monarchy that protects peoples rights, the author adopted the name Voltaire in 1718, following his incarceration at the Bastille
2.
Samuel Pepys
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Samuel Pepys FRS was an administrator of the navy of England and Member of Parliament who is most famous for the diary that he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man. Pepys had no experience, but he rose to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II through patronage, hard work, and his talent for administration. His influence and reforms at the Admiralty were important in the early professionalisation of the Royal Navy, the detailed private diary that Pepys kept from 1660 until 1669 was first published in the 19th century and is one of the most important primary sources for the English Restoration period. It provides a combination of personal revelation and eyewitness accounts of events, such as the Great Plague of London, the Second Dutch War. Pepys was born in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, London on 23 February 1633, the son of John Pepys, a tailor and his great uncle Talbot Pepys was Recorder and briefly Member of Parliament for Cambridge in 1625. His fathers first cousin Sir Richard Pepys was elected MP for Sudbury in 1640, appointed Baron of the Exchequer on 30 May 1654, Pepys was the fifth of eleven children, but child mortality was high and he was soon the oldest survivor. He was baptised at St Brides Church on 3 March, Pepys did not spend all of his infancy in London, for a while, he was sent to live with nurse Goody Lawrence at Kingsland, just north of the city. In about 1644, Pepys attended Huntingdon Grammar School before being educated at St Pauls School, London and he attended the execution of Charles I in 1649. In 1650, he went to Cambridge University, having received two exhibitions from St Pauls School and a grant from the Mercers Company. In October, he was admitted as a sizar to Magdalene College, he moved there in March 1651, later in 1654 or early in 1655, he entered the household of another of his fathers cousins, Sir Edward Montagu, who was later created 1st Earl of Sandwich. From a young age, Pepys suffered from stones in his urinary tract – a condition from which his mother and brother John also later suffered. He was almost never without pain, as well as other symptoms, by the time of his marriage, the condition was very severe. In 1657 Pepys decided to undergo surgery, not an option, as the operation was known to be especially painful. Nevertheless, Pepys consulted surgeon Thomas Hollier and, on 26 March 1658, Pepys stone was successfully removed and he resolved to hold a celebration on every anniversary of the operation, which he did for several years. However, there were long-term effects from the operation, the incision on his bladder broke open again late in his life. The procedure may have left him sterile, though there is no evidence for this. In mid-1658 Pepys moved to Axe Yard, near the modern Downing Street and he worked as a teller in the Exchequer under George Downing. On 1 January 1660, Pepys began to keep a diary and he recorded his daily life for almost ten years
3.
Pepys Library
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The Pepys Library of Magdalene College, Cambridge, is the personal library collected by Samuel Pepys which he bequeathed to the college following his death in 1703. Pepys was a bibliophile and carefully nurtured his large collection of books, manuscripts. At his death, there were more than 3,000 volumes, including the diary, all carefully catalogued and indexed, they form one of the most important surviving 17th century private libraries. Pepys made detailed provisions in his will for the preservation of his collection, and. The bequest included all the bookcases and his elaborate instructions that placement of the books. Be strictly reviewed and, where found requiring it, more nicely adjusted, under the terms of the bequest, none of the books may be sold, and no additional ones may be added to the library. The library is housed in a room on the first floor of the Pepys Building in the court of the college. It contains 3,000 books preserved in Pepyss own bookcases for them, over 1,800 printed ballads, one of the finest collections in existence. A selection of the most interesting volumes are on display, the library is usually open to the public in the afternoons from Monday to Saturday. It is best to consult the Magdalene College website for current times, the Pepys Building is the principal ornament of the College and of considerable architectural interest. The plainer rear is of brick while the front is neo-classical, built between 1670 and 1703, it has been described as a highly remarkable classical building of the date. Construction was slow for want of money, but the project was revived after advice was sought from Robert Hooke in 1677, Samuel Pepys made three subscriptions to the building fund. Bibliotheca Pepysiana, London, Sidgwick and Jackson, 1913-40 pt.1, sea manuscripts, by Dr. J. R. Tanner. General introduction, by F. Sidgwick, and Early printed books to 1558, mediaeval manuscripts, by Dr. M. R. James. Shorthand books, with biographical and bibliographical notes, by W. J. Carlton, catalogue of the Pepys Library, Cambridge, D. S. Brewer, 1978-. The Pepys Library, And the Historic Collections of Magdalene College Cambridge, Pepys Library website Magdalene College Libraries Blog
4.
Eliza Haywood
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Eliza Haywood, born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. An increase in interest and recognition of Haywood’s literary works began in the 1980s, Haywood is a significant figure of the 18th century as one of the important founders of the novel in English. Today she is studied primarily as a novelist, scholars of Eliza Haywood universally agree upon only one thing, the exact date of her death. Haywood gave conflicting accounts of her own life, her origins remain unclear, for example, it was once mistakenly believed that she married the Rev. Valentine Haywood. Apparently, that person felt loyal enough to Haywood to honor her request, the early life of Eliza Haywood is somewhat of a mystery to scholars. While Haywood was born Eliza Fowler, the date of Haywoods birth is unknown due to the lack of surviving records. Although, scholars believe that she was most likely born near Shropshire or London and this birth date is extrapolated from a combination of her death date and her stated age at the time of her death. Haywood’s familial connections, education status, and social position are unknown, some scholars have speculated that she is related to Sir Richard Fowler of Harnage Grange, who had a younger sister named Elizabeth. Her first entry in public records appears in Dublin, Ireland, in this entry, she is listed as Mrs. Haywood, performing in Thomas Shadwells Shakespeare adaptation, Timon of Athens, or, The Man-Hater at the Smock Alley Theatre. Haywood’s marital status is self-identified as “widow, ” noting that her marriage was “unfortunate” in 1719, however, later critics have called these speculations into question as too heavily influenced by Alexander Popes famous illustration of her in The Dunciad and too little based upon hard facts. In fact, and despite the belief that she was once a woman of ill repute. Haywoods friendship with Richard Savage is thought to have begun around 1719, just after the publication of Part I of her first novel. Savage wrote the gushing puff for Part I of the novel, the two appear to have been close in these early years, sharing many associates in literary and theatrical circles, even sharing the same publisher, William Chetwood. By September 1725, however, Savage and Haywood had fallen out, Savage is considered the likely impetus for Popes attack on Haywood, as well. Haywoods association with Aaron Hill and the literary coterie known as The Hillarians seems to have followed a pattern as Haywood rose to fame. The Hillarians were a collection of writers and artists committed to a programme of ameliorating politeness, and included Savage, Hill, Martha Sansom. The group shared poems to and about other, and formed a social circle of like minds. Haywood seems to have greatly admired Hill--who, though not a patron and she may have even seen him as a mentor during the earliest years of her career
5.
Susanna Centlivre
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Susanna Centlivre, born Susanna Freeman and also known professionally as Susanna Carroll, was an English poet, actress, and the most successful female playwright of the eighteenth century. Centlivres pieces continued to be acted after the managers had forgotten most of her contemporaries. During a long career at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, she became known as the woman of the English stage. The main source of information on Centlivres early life is Giles Jacob and this was published in The Poetical Register of 1719, but it includes little information about her early life. Her father was a dissenter and a parliamentarian, as a result, several biographical sources state that Holbeach was the possible place of her birth or at least the place where she spent her childhood. Abuse by this new stepmother may have motivated Centlivre to leave her home before the age of 15. There are two stories that tell of her transition to acting and eventual arrival in London, the romanticized version has Centlivre found weeping by the roadside by Anthony Hammond, a student at Cambridge. Enraptured by her manners and good looks, he smuggled her into his college, there she remained hidden for some months studying grammar and acquiring some of the terms of logic, rhetoric, and ethics before attracting too much attention and deciding to head to London. Centlivres skill in such roles charmed many men, especially Mr Fox, however, he died less than a year later. Following Foxs death, Centlivre is claimed to have married an officer named Carroll, who died in a duel a year. She kept the name Carroll until her next marriage, although much of her early years is speculation, biographers agree that Susannas was predominantly self–acquired through reading and conversation. Looking at her use of French drama, it is not hard to see that Centlivre also had a knowledge of the French language. After her husbands death, Centlivre spent much of her time in London, by 1706, Centlivre had made a small name for herself, however, she still relied on financial support from strolling. Though he was of a social class, a mere yeoman of the mouth to Queen Anne. There is no evidence to suggest where they resided for the first seven years of their marriage, eventually, in late 1712 or early 1713, the Centlivres moved into residence at Buckingham Court, paying the highest rent second only to the Admiralty Office. The Evening Post, London Journal, British Journal, and Weekly Journal had brief notices of her death, Centlivres body was buried three days after her death in St. Pauls, Covent Garden. A little over year later, her husband followed, Giles Jacob mentions Centlivres inclination to poetry with her first poem being written when she was merely seven years old. However, her first published work, a series of five letters and these letters contain playful, witty back-and-forth banter between her and the correspondent
6.
Ludvig Holberg
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Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque, Holberg is considered the founder of modern Danish and Norwegian literature, and is best known for the comedies he wrote in 1722–1723 for the Lille Grønnegade Theatre in Copenhagen. Holbergs works about natural and common law were widely read by many Danish law students over two hundred years, from 1736 to 1936, Holberg was the youngest of six brothers. His father, Christian Nielsen Holberg, died before Ludvig was one year old and he was educated in Copenhagen, and was a teacher at the University of Copenhagen for many years. At the same time, he started his career as an author. He began to study theology at the University of Copenhagen and later taught law, history. In Holbergs youth, it was common to study theology and specialize according to degree, for example in Greek, Latin. For the purpose of becoming a lawyer, it was normal to study abroad, Holberg was formally appointed assistant professor after having first worked as one without pay. He had to accept the first available position, which was teaching metaphysics, later, he became a professor and taught rhetoric and Latin. Finally, he was given a professorship in the subject which he prized most and was most productive in and he was not formally admitted to Oxford University, but spent his time there using the libraries and participating in Latin discussions with the English students. Holbergs travels were an inspiration in his later writings – these experiences matured him both artistically and morally. Holberg let himself be inspired by old Latin comedies and newer French comedies he had seen in Paris and his writings can be divided into three periods, during which he produced mainly history, 1711–1718, mainly satirical poetry and stage comedies, 1719–1731, and mainly philosophy, 1731–1750. His rich output of comedies during the period was shaped by his role as house dramatist at Denmarks first public theater. These comedies are the works on which his fame rests today, Holbergs only novel, the satirical science-fiction/fantasy Niels Klims Underground Travels was originally published in Latin in 1741 as Nicolai Klimii Iter Subterraneum. In Paris, Holberg met the Danish scientist Jacob Winsløw, who was Catholic, Winsløw tried to convert Holberg, without success. This was a new, modern understanding of the question of religion, Holberg was interested in intellect because he felt that this is what binds society together. He also wondered why there was so much evil in the world, Holberg was open to biblical criticism, and Holbergs religious representation was, for the most part, deism. He was critical of the notion of original sin, instead subscribing to the notion of free will
7.
As You Like It
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As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio,1623. The plays first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncles court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden. In the forest, they encounter a variety of memorable characters, Jaques provides a sharp contrast to the other characters in the play, always observing and disputing the hardships of life in the country. Historically, critical response has varied, with critics finding the work of lesser quality than other Shakespearean works. The play remains a favourite among audiences and has adapted for radio, film. The play is set in a duchy in France, but most of the takes place in a location called the Forest of Arden. Frederick has usurped the Duchy and exiled his brother, Duke Senior. Duke Seniors daughter, Rosalind, has permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend and cousin of Fredericks only child. Orlando, a gentleman of the kingdom who at first sight has fallen in love with Rosalind, is forced to flee his home after being persecuted by his older brother, Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and banishes Rosalind from court, Celia and Rosalind decide to flee together accompanied by the court fool, Touchstone, with Rosalind disguised as a young man and Celia disguised as a poor lady. Ganymede and Aliena do not immediately encounter the Duke and his companions, instead, they meet Corin, an impoverished tenant, and offer to buy his masters crude cottage. Orlando and his servant Adam, meanwhile, find the Duke and his men and are living with them. Rosalind, also in love with Orlando, meets him as Ganymede, Ganymede says that he will take Rosalinds place and that he and Orlando can act out their relationship. The shepherdess, Phoebe, with whom Silvius is in love, has fallen in love with Ganymede, Touchstone, meanwhile, has fallen in love with the dull-witted shepherdess, Audrey, and tries to woo her, but eventually is forced to be married first. William, another shepherd, attempts to marry Audrey as well, but is stopped by Touchstone, finally, Silvius, Phoebe, Ganymede, and Orlando are brought together in an argument with each other over who will get whom. Ganymede says he will solve the problem, having Orlando promise to marry Rosalind, Orlando sees Oliver in the forest and rescues him from a lioness, causing Oliver to repent for mistreating Orlando. Oliver meets Aliena and falls in love with her, and they agree to marry, Jaques, ever melancholic, declines their invitation to return to the court preferring to stay in the forest and to adopt a religious life as well
8.
Richard Steele
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Sir Richard Steele was an Irish writer and politician, remembered as co-founder, with his friend Joseph Addison, of the magazine The Tatler. Steele was born in Dublin, Ireland in March 1672 to Richard Steele, an attorney, Steele was largely raised by his uncle and aunt, Henry Gascoigne and Lady Katherine Mildmay. A member of the Protestant gentry, he was educated at Charterhouse School, after starting at Christ Church in Oxford, he went on to Merton College, Oxford, then joined the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry in order to support King Williams wars against France. He was commissioned in 1697, and rose to the rank of captain two years. Steele left the army in 1705, perhaps due to the death of the 34th Foots commanding officer, Lord Lucas, in 1706 Steele was appointed to a position in the household of Prince George of Denmark, consort of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. He also gained the favour of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, Steele became a Whig Member of Parliament in 1713, for Stockbridge. He was soon expelled for issuing a pamphlet in favour of the Hanoverian succession, when George I of Great Britain came to the throne in the following year, Steele was knighted and given responsibility for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. He returned to parliament in 1715, for Boroughbridge, while at Drury Lane, Steele wrote and directed the sentimental comedy The Conscious Lovers, which was an immediate hit. However, he fell out with Addison and with the administration over the Peerage Bill, and in 1724 he retired to his wifes homeland of Wales, Steele was a member of the Kit-Kat Club. Both Steele and Addison became closely associated with Childs Coffee-house in St Pauls Churchyard, Steele remained in Carmarthen after his wife Marys death, and was buried there, at St Peters Church. During restoration of the church in 2000, his skull was discovered in a lead casket, Steeles first published work, The Christian Hero, attempted to point out the differences between perceived and actual masculinity. Written while Steele served in the army, it expressed his idea of a pamphlet of moral instruction, the Christian Hero was ultimately ridiculed for what some thought was hypocrisy because Steele did not necessarily follow his own preaching. He was criticized for publishing a booklet about morals when he enjoyed drinking, occasional dueling. Steele wrote a comedy that year titled The Funeral. This play met with success and was performed at Drury Lane, bringing him to the attention of the King. Next, Steele wrote The Lying Lover, one of the first sentimental comedies, the Tatler, Steeles first journal, first came out on 12 April 1709, and appeared three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Steele wrote this periodical under the pseudonym Isaac Bickerstaff and gave Bickerstaff an entire, while Addison contributed to The Tatler, it is widely regarded as Steeles work. The Tatler was closed down to avoid the complications of running a Whig publication that had come under Tory attack, Addison and Steele then founded The Spectator in 1711 and also the Guardian in 1713
9.
Magdalene College, Cambridge
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Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in coming to be known as Buckingham College. Magdalene College has some of the grandest benefactors including Britains premier noble the Duke of Norfolk, however the refoundation was largely the work of Thomas Audley, Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII. Audley also gave the college its motto—garde ta foy, audleys successors in the Mastership and as benefactors of the College were, however, prone to dire ends, several benefactors were arraigned at various stages on charges of high treason and executed. The colleges most famous alumnus is Samuel Pepys, whose papers and books were donated to the college upon his death, the college boasts a portrait of the famous diarist by Peter Lely, which hangs in the Hall. Magdalene is noted for its style, it boasts a well-regarded candlelit formal hall and was the last all-male college in Oxford or Cambridge to admit women in 1988. This change resulted in protests by some undergraduates, including the wearing of black armbands. Magdalenes old buildings are representative of the colleges ramshackle growth from a monks foundation into a centre of education and it is also distinctive in that most of the old buildings are in brick rather than stone. Magdalene Street divides the most ancient courts from more recent developments, one of the accommodation blocks in the newer part of the college was built by Edwin Lutyens in the early 1930s. Opened in 2005, Cripps Court, on Chesterton Road, features new undergraduate rooms, Magdalene remains, despite this 20th-century expansion, one of the smaller colleges within the University, numbering some 300 undergraduates and an expanding postgraduate community. Magdalene College was first founded in 1428 as Monks Hostel, which hosted Benedictine student monks, the secluded location of the hostel was chosen because it was separated from the town centre by the River Cam and protected by the Cambridge Castle. The main buildings of the college were first constructed in the 1470s under the leadership of John de Wisbech, under the patronage of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, the institution was renamed Buckingham College. In the 16th century, the Church of England broke away from the Papacy, with the subsequent Dissolution of the Monasteries, the parent abbey of Buckingham College, Crowland Abbey, was dissolved. However, the college remained in operation, walden Abbey, one of the Benedictine abbeys associated with Buckingham College, came into the possession of Thomas Audley after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1542, Audley refounded Buckingham College as the College of Saint Mary Magdalene, derived from Audley were the arms of Magdalene, including the motto Garde Ta Foy, and the wyvern as the crest. Thomas Audley died in 1544 aged 56, only two years after he re-founded the college and he donated to the college seven acres of property at Aldgate in London, which was his reward from Henry VIII for disposing of Anne Boleyn. This property would have brought enormous income had it been retained by the college, however, under the conspiracy of the Elizabethan banker Benedict Spinola, the property was permanently alienated to the Crown in 1574. The transaction involved Spinola luring the master and fellows of the time to accept an increase in the rental from £9 to £15 a year in exchange for the property
10.
Jane Barker
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Jane Barker was a popular English fiction writer, poet, and a staunch Jacobite. She went into self-imposed exile when James II fled England during the Glorious Revolution in 1688, although not known for her letter writing, four extant letters are located in the British Library and within the Magdalen Manuscript at the Oxford Magdalen library, written between 1670-88. Jane Barker was born in May 1652, in the village of Blatherwick, Northamptonshire in England to Thomas Barker, Anne Connock seems to be descended from an unlanded and Roman Catholic branch of the Connock family, which might explain Janes Papist affiliation. A member of a royalist family, Jane Barker went into exile with James II once William of Orange entered England, when Jane was 10 years old, Thomas Barker leased a property and manor in Wilsthorp, Lincolnshire. This property was bequeathed to both Jane Barker and her mother upon her fathers death in 1681 and she relocated to the property upon returning from exile in 1704, proof of Jane Barkers knowledge of medicine can be seen in the advertisement forDr. Barkers Famous Gout Plaister, and in her poems about anatomy found in her Poetical Recreations, indebted to her brother for providing her with the basis of her education, Jane mourned his death in 1675, shortly after he finished his time at Oxford. Barker was baptized on 17 May 1652 according to the rites of the Church of England, however, she converted to Catholicism during reign of James II, between 1685 and 1688. After James defeat by the Prince of Orange in the Glorious Revolution, London became a place for Catholics. Following an ideology of Jacobitism, and a royalist, Jane Barker was one of the 40,000 people who followed James II in exile to France and she was one of the smaller number of individuals who maintained residence at Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1689. James II maintained court in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a castle lent to the Stuarts by Louis XIV from 1689 to 1704, Barkers Jacobite involvement is further evidenced in her letter to James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde, who began organizing a Jacobite invasion from France. Dated 19 March 1718, the letter implicitly informed Ormonde that his supporters in England awaited his invasion, however, the letter was intercepted in that same year by the British Secrete Office, the anti-Jacobite intelligence organization. Described as written by several Gentlemen of the Universities, and Others, originally printed without the authors permission by Benjamin Crayle, the title page of Poetical Recreations boasted that poems within were Occasionally written by Mrs. Jane Barker. Benjamin Crayle also contributed twelve poems in Part Two and expressed his admiration for Barkers literary taste, a note in what is now called the Magdalen Manuscript suggests that the publisher did not have Barkers permission to print the collection, it reads now corrected by her own hand. The marginalia indicates that the collection was not yet meant for public consumption. Scholar Kathryn King finds evidence through marginal notations in the Magdalen Manuscript that Barkers works are autobiographical, written at the end of her time at Saint-Germaine-en-Laye, A Collection of Poems Referring to the Times is highly political and takes a pro-Stuart position. The speaker in the collection, Fidelia, is considered autobiographical and she is characterized as a Stuart loyalist and Catholic convert, depicting Barkers own political and religious affiliations. Upon returning to England, Jane Barker gifted a copy of her A Collection of Poems Referring to the Times to the son of James II for his birthday, the manuscript holding in the British Library is believed to contain a prototype copy of the collection. Originally printed in 1713 and revised and reprinted in 1719, Love Intrigues was the first installment in what came to be known as the Galesia Trilogy and it has been suggested that Bosvils character was based heavily on a man whom Barker knew well
11.
1714 in literature
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This article presents lists of the literary events and publications in 1714. March – The Scriblerus Club, an group of literary friends, is formed by Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, John Gay, John Arbuthnot, Thomas Parnell, Henry St. John. July 27 – Robert Harley is dismissed as Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain, august 1 – George, elector of Hanover, becomes King George I of Great Britain following the death of Queen Anne. This places many writers in opposition to the new Whig ministry and brings about the rise of Robert Walpole, samuel Garth, poet and royal physician, is knighted by King George I of Great Britain. Esther Vanhomrigh pursues Jonathan Swift to Ireland
