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Gryphius, Andreas

(Encyclopedia)Gryphius, Andreas ändrāˈäs grüˈfēo͝os [key], 1616–64, German poet-dramatist, originally named Andreas Greif. He wrote in Latin, new High German, and Silesian dialect. Among his many sonnets,...

May, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)May, Thomas, 1595–1650, English author, b. Sussex, grad. Cambridge, 1612. Besides writing several tragedies on classical subjects, he wrote two comedies, The Heir (1620) and The Old Couple (c.1620)....

Stirling, William Alexander, earl of

(Encyclopedia)Stirling, William Alexander, earl of, 1567?–1640, Scottish poet. He was tutor of Prince Henry of Scotland and went to England on the accession of James I. The holder of various government offices, h...

Barnes, Djuna

(Encyclopedia)Barnes, Djuna jo͞onˈə [key], 1892–1982, American author, b. Cornwall, N.Y. She is best known for her modernist novel Nightwood (1936), which, in its sense of horror and decay, was likened by T. S...

Horne, Richard Henry

(Encyclopedia)Horne, Richard Henry, or Richard Hengist Horne, 1802–84, English author. His chief work was the allegorical poem Orion (1843). A New Spirit of the Age (1844), written with Elizabeth Barrett (later E...

Garnier, Robert

(Encyclopedia)Garnier, Robert gärnyāˈ [key], 1534?–1590, French dramatic poet. He wrote mainly closet dramas in the classical manner of Seneca. Les Juives [the Jewish women] (1583), based on the Bible, is per...

Southerne, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Southerne, Thomas sŭᵺˈərn [key], 1660–1746, English dramatist, b. Ireland. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he moved to London where he pursued a career as a writer. He was a friend of Dryd...

Boker, George Henry

(Encyclopedia)Boker, George Henry bōˈkər [key], 1823–90, American poet and playwright, b. Philadelphia, grad. Princeton, 1842. He is best remembered for his romantic and heroic tragedies, written in the manner...

Żeromski, Stefan

(Encyclopedia)Żeromski, Stefan stĕˈfän zhĕrômˈskē [key], 1864–1925, Polish writer. Family tragedies and emotional troubles contributed to the pessimistic strain evident in his revolutionary idealism. Amon...

Barry, Elizabeth

(Encyclopedia)Barry, Elizabeth, 1658–1713, English actress. She gained entrance to the stage through the patronage of the earl of Rochester. From the time of her appearances at the Theatre Royal (1682–95) until...