Edward Young
Edward Young was an influential English poet, critic, and dramatist born in July 1683, in Upham, near Winchester. Initially perceived as a carefree youth, he later transformed into a more serious figure, focusing on themes of morality and religion. Young graduated from Oxford in 1714 and later obtained a doctorate in civil law in 1719. Throughout his career, he sought to establish connections within literary circles and produced a diverse range of works encompassing literature and politics. Notably, he is celebrated for his long blank verse poem "The Complaint: Or, Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality," which achieved significant popularity and was illustrated by the renowned artist William Blake. Despite early success, Young faced a decline in his creative output by the 1740s, ultimately experiencing periods of melancholy. His legacy endures through his contributions to literature and reflection on existential themes.
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Edward Young
English critic and poet
- Born: June 1, 1681
- Birthplace: Upham, England
- Died: April 5, 1765
- Place of death: Welwyn, England
Biography
The poet, critic, and dramatist Edward Young was born at Upham, near Winchester, probably in early July, 1683, the son of Edward Young, rector of Upham and fellow of Winchester. Young probably deserved the comment of Alexander Pope, that he had spent “a foolish youth, the sport of peers and poets.” He very likely was not then the pious man of religion and morality that he later became.
Young graduated from Oxford as a bachelor of civil law on April 23, 1714, and as a doctor of civil law on June 10, 1719. Thereafter he capitalized on his friendships and acquaintances as he attempted to make his way in the world and gain admittance to literary circles. He wrote many and various “literary” works on many and various subjects, from literature to politics, some of which he later regretted.
Although he wrote two successful blank verse tragedies, Busiris, King of Egypt and The Brothers, Young is remembered primarily for his long blank verse meditation on death, The Complaint: Or, Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality. This work went through hundreds of reprints, editions, and translations during the following centuries, and it was illustrated by William Blake. By the early 1740’s Young had become wealthy and, although he continued to write, his creative powers had weakened. He eventually sank into melancholy and irritability.
Bibliography
Forester, Harold. Edward Young: The Poet of “The Night Thoughts,” 1683-1765. New York: Erskin, 1986. Containing a wealth of information, this biography provides a thorough investigation of Young’s career and his position within eighteenth century British culture.
Morris, David B. The Religious Sublime: Christian Poetry and Critical Tradition in Eighteenth Century England. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1972. Morris’s study provides a particularly useful reading of Night-Thoughts and positions Young’s work within the context of eighteenth century religious controversies.
Nussbaum, Felicity. The Brink of All We Hate: English Satires on Women, 1660-1750. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1984. Nussbaum provides a cogent discussion of Young’s frequently overlooked satire, Love of Fame, the Universal Passion.
Patey, Douglas Lane. “Art and Integrity: Concepts of Self in Alexander Pope and Edward Young.” Modern Philology 83, no. 4 (1986): 364-378. Patey’s essay examines the relationship between Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man and Night-Thoughts.
St. John Bliss, Isabel. Edward Young. New York: Twayne, 1969. This older study still provides an excellent starting point for readers of Young’s poetry.
Wanko, Cheryl L. “The Making of a Minor Poet: Edward Young and Literary Taxonomy.” English Studies 72, no. 4 (1991): 355-367. Wanko argues convincingly that Young’s reputation suffered throughout the twentieth century because of “our system of literary taxonomy.” She demonstrates how eighteenth and nineteenth century appraisals of Young’s work made him appear to be a literary anomaly.