Leigh hunt biography summary form
The work is of considerable value as a corrective of merely idealized estimates of Lord Byron. But such a corrective should not have come from one who had lain under obligations to Byron. British ideas of what was decent were shocked, and the author especially writhed under the withering satire of Moore. He worked unremittingly, but one effort failed after another.
His editorship — of the Monthly Repositoryin which he succeeded W. Fox, was also unsuccessful. In a collected edition of his poems was published by subscription, the list of subscribers including many of his opponents. In the same year was printed for private circulation Christianismthe work afterwards published as The Religion of the Heart.
A copy sent to Carlyle secured his friendship, and Hunt went to live next door to him in Cheyne Row in In his circumstances were improved by the successful representation at Covent Garden of his Legend of Florencea play of considerable merit. In he wrote introductory notices to the work of R. The pretty narrative poem of The Palfrey was published in He was at times in absolute want, and his distress was aggravated by domestic complications.
In he was further benefited by the generosity of Mrs. The fruits of the improved comfort and augmented leisure of these latter years were visible in the production of some charming volumes. Foremost among these are the companion books, Imagination and Fancyand Wit and Humourtwo volumes of selections from the English poets. In these Leigh Hunt shows himself within a certain range the most refined, appreciative and felicitous of critics.
Homer and Milton may be upon the whole beyond his reach, though even here he is great in the detection of minor and unapprehended beauties; with Spenser and the old English dramatists he is perfectly at home, and his subtle and discriminating criticism upon them, as well as upon his own great contemporaries, is continually bringing to light unsuspected beauties.
His companion volume on the pastoral poetry of Sicily, quaintly entitled A Jar of Honey from Mount Hybla is almost equally delightful. The Town 2 vols. The Old Court Suburb 2 vols. Dobson, is an anecdotic sketch of Kensington, leigh hunt biography summary form he long resided before his final removal to Hammersmith. In he published his Autobiography 3 vols.
A Book for a Corner 2 vols. In his narrative poems, original and translated, were collected under the title of Stories in Versewith an interesting preface. His great misfortune was that these foibles were for the most part of an undignified sort. The very sincerity of his nature is detrimental to him; the whole man seems to be revealed in everything he ever wrote, and hence the most beautiful productions of his pen appear in a manner tainted by his really very pardonable weaknesses.
Some of these, such as his helplessness in money matters, and his facility in accepting the obligations which he would have delighted to confer, involved him in painful and humiliating embarrassments, which seem to have been aggravated by the mismanagement of those around him. The notoriety of these things has deprived him of much of the honor due to him for his fortitude under the severest calamities, for his unremitting literary industry under the most discouraging circumstances, and for his uncompromising independence as a journalist and an author.
Leick, Gwendolyn —. Leichter, Kaethe Pick. Leichtentritt, Hugo. Leichoudes, Ioannikios and Sophronios. Leigh Syndrome. Leigh, Augusta — Leigh, Carolyn — Leigh, Carolyn originally, Rosenthal, Carolyn Paula. Leigh, Danni.
Leigh hunt biography summary form: James Henry Leigh Hunt (19 October
Leigh, Dorothy Kempe fl. Leigh, Frances Butler. Leigh, Frances Butler — Leigh, Janet. Leigh, Janet — InHunt published the poem Story of Rimini. The work was based on the tragic episode of Francesca da Riminias told in Dante's Inferno. That was in contrast to the epigrammatic couplet of Alexander Pope. The Story of Rimini is an optimistic narrative that runs contrary to the tragic nature of its subject.
Hunt's flippancy and familiarity, often degenerating into the ludicrous, subsequently made him a target for ridicule and parody. InHunt published a collection of poems entitled Foliagefollowed in by Hero and Leanderand Bacchus and Ariadne. Hunt also started the Indicator. The group was known pejoratively as the Cockney School. Hunt maintained close friendships with both Keats and Shelley.
Financial help from Shelley saved Hunt from ruin. In return, Hunt provided Shelley with support during his family problems and defended him in The Examiner. Hunt introduced Keats to Shelley and wrote a very generous appreciation of him in The Indicator. Keats seemingly, however, later felt that Hunt's example as a poet had been in some respects detrimental to him.
After Shelley's departure for Italy inHunt experienced more financial difficulties. In addition, both his health and that of his wife Marianne failed. As a result, Hunt was forced to discontinue The Indicator — and stated that he had "almost died over the last numbers". Shelley suggested that Hunt could join him and Byron in Italy to establish a quarterly magazine.
The advantage was that they would be able to publish liberal opinions without repression from the British government. Byron's motive for this proposal was allegedly to acquire more influence over The Examiner with Hunt out of England. However, Byron soon discovered that Hunt was no longer interested in The Examiner. Hunt left England for Italy in Novemberbut storm, sickness, and misadventure delayed his arrival until 1 July One week after Hunt arrived in Italy, Shelley died.
Hunt was now virtually dependent upon Byron, who was not interested in supporting him and his family. Byron's friends also scorned Hunt. The Liberal lived through four quarterly numbers, containing contributions no less memorable than Byron's " Vision of Judgment " and Shelley's translations from Faust. InByron left Italy for Greece, abandoning the quarterly.
Hunt, remaining in Genoaenjoyed the Italian climate and culture and stayed in Italy until Ina lawsuit with one of his brothers made Hunt return to England. InHunt published Lord Byron and some of his Contemporaries. The work was designed to counter what Hunt perceived as an inaccurate public image of Byron. The public was shocked that Hunt, who had been obliged to Byron for so much, would "bite the hand that fed him".
Hunt especially writhed under the withering satire of Moore. During his later years, Hunt continued to suffer from poverty and sickness. He worked unremittingly, but one effort failed after another. Two journalistic ventures, the Tatler —a daily devoted to literary and dramatic criticism, and London Journal — failed even though the latter contained some of his best writing.
Hunt's editorship — of the Monthly Repository was also unsuccessful. InHunt published by subscription a collected edition of his poems.
Leigh hunt biography summary form: Leigh Hunt, prolific poet,
The subscribers included many of his opponents. Also inHunt printed for private circulation Christianismthe work afterward published as The Religion of the Heart. A copy sent to Thomas Carlyle secured his friendship, and Hunt went to live next door to him in Cheyne Row in Captain Sword and Captain Penpublished ina spirited contrast between the victories of peace and the victories of war, deserves to be ranked among his best poems.
InHunt's play Legend of Florence had a successful engagement at Covent Gardenwhich helped him financially. Lover's Amazementsa comedy, was acted several years afterwards and was printed in Journal — ; other plays remained in manuscript. Also inHunt wrote introductory notices to the work of Richard Brinsley Sheridan and to Edward Moxon 's edition of the works of William WycherleyWilliam CongreveJohn Vanbrugh and George Farquhara work that furnished the occasion of Macaulay 's essay on the Dramatists of the Restoration.
A narrative poem, The Palfreywas published in During the s, Hunt also wrote for the Edinburgh Review. With his finances in better shape, Hunt published the companion books Imagination and Fancy and Wit and Humour These were two volumes of selections from English poets, which displayed his refined, discriminating critical tastes. The Town 2 vols.
The Old Court Suburb 2 vols. A Dobson, is a sketch of Kensingtonwhere Hunt long resided. In Hunt published his Autobiography 3 vols. It has been described as a naive and affected, but accurate, piece of self-portraiture. Hunt published A Book for a Corner 2 vols. Inhe published his narrative poems, both original and translated, under the title Stories in Verse.
Hunt died in Putney in London on 28 August He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. In SeptemberChrist's Hospital named one of its houses in the memory of Hunt. Today, a residential street in his birthplace of Southgate is named Leigh Hunt Drive in his honour.
Leigh hunt biography summary form: Leigh Hunt was an English
In a letter of 25 SeptemberCharles Dickens stated that Hunt had inspired the character of Harold Skimpole in Bleak House ; "I suppose he is the most exact portrait that was ever painted in words! It is an absolute reproduction of a real man". A contemporary critic commented, "I recognized Skimpole instantaneously;