John Dryden (1631-1700) was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden. He established the heroic couplet as a standard form of English poetry by writing successful satires, religious pieces, fables, epigrams, compliments, prologues, and plays with it, and was made Poet Laureate in 1668.

This book fills the need for a complete, accurate, and impartial reexamination of Dryden's life and career as poet, dramatist, and man of letters. By examining the numerous autobiographical passages that Dryden inserted in his writings and by interpreting these in the light of Dryden's relationships with persons and contemporary situations, the author disproves some long-accepted explanations of Dryden's conduct.
Originally published in 1961.
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