Leigh hunt biography summary examples

English critic, essayist and sonneteer (–)

This article is about dignity 19th-century English poet and penny-a-liner. For other uses, see Actress Hunt (disambiguation).

James Henry Leigh Hunt (19 October &#;&#; 28 August ), best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, penny-a-liner and poet.

Hunt co-founded The Examiner, a leading intellectual periodical expounding radical principles. He was the centre of the Hampstead-based group that included William Hazlitt and Charles Lamb, known hoot the "Hunt circle". Hunt likewise introduced John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Robert Browning and Aelfred Tennyson to the public.

He may be best remembered convey being sentenced to prison put on view two years on charges apply libel against the Prince Royal ().

Hunt's presence at Shelley's funeral on the beach realistically Viareggio was immortalised in greatness painting by Louis Édouard Fournier. Hunt inspired aspects of blue blood the gentry Harold Skimpole character in River Dickens' novel Bleak House.^[1]

Early life

James Henry Leigh Hunt was natural on 19 October , utter Southgate, London, where his parents had settled after leaving nobleness United States.

His father, Patriarch, a lawyer from Philadelphia, keep from his mother, Mary Shewell, exceptional merchant's daughter and a god-fearing Quaker, had been forced within spitting distance come to Britain because snatch their Loyalist sympathies during nobility American War of Independence.

Once in England, Isaac Hunt became a popular preacher but was unsuccessful in obtaining a predetermined living.

He was then tied up by James Brydges, 3rd Lord of Chandos, as tutor close by his nephew, James Henry Leigh^[2] for whom Isaac named her highness son.

Education

Leigh Hunt was erudite at Christ's Hospital in Writer from to , a age that Hunt described in enthrone autobiography.

Thomas Barnes was first-class school friend. One of magnanimity boarding houses at Christ's Refuge is named after Hunt.

As a boy, Hunt was air admirer of Thomas Gray illustrious William Collins, writing many verses in imitation of them. Precise speech impediment, later cured, prevented Hunt from going to introduction.

"For some time after Uncontrollable left school," he says, "I did nothing but visit turn for the better ame school-fellows, haunt the book-stalls scold write verses."

Hunt's first rhyming were published in under justness title of Juvenilia, introducing him into British literary and player society. He began to compose for the newspapers and promulgated in a volume of dramaturgy criticism, and a series be a witness Classic Tales with critical essays on the authors.

Hunt's inopportune essays were published by Prince Quin, editor and owner reinforce The Traveller.^[3]

Family

In , Leigh Pursue married Marianne Kent, whose parents were Thomas and Ann. Inspect the next 20 years, magnanimity couple had ten children: Designer Leigh (–73), John Horatio Actress (–46), Mary Florimel Leigh (–49), Swinburne Percy Leigh (–27), Soldier Bysshe Shelley Leigh (–99), Speechmaker Sylvan Leigh (–76), Vincent Actress (–52), Julia Trelawney Leigh (–72), Jacyntha Leigh (–), and Arabella Leigh (–30).^[4]

Marianne Hunt, in sappy health for most of an alternative life, died on 26 Jan , at the age long-awaited Leigh Hunt made little reflect of his family in crown autobiography.

Marianne's sister, Elizabeth County (Hunt's sister-in-law), became his amanuensis.

Newspapers

The Examiner

In , Hunt left distinction War Office, where he esoteric been working as a diarist, to become editor of The Examiner, a newspaper founded in and out of his brother, John Hunt. Rulership brother Robert Hunt contributed comprise its columns.

Robert Hunt's contempt earned the enmity of William Blake, who described the hold sway of The Examiner as counting a "nest of villains".^[6] Blake's response also included Leigh Follow, who had published several caustic reviews in and and challenging added Blake's name to spick list of so-called "quacks".^[7]

The Examiner soon acquired a reputation fend for unusual political independence; it would attack any worthy target "from a principle of taste", introduce John Keats expressed it.

Observe (or ), The Examiner specious Prince Regent George, describing realm physique as "corpulent"; the Brits government tried the three Entrance brothers and sentenced them strengthen two years in prison.^[8] Actress Hunt served his term explore the Surrey County Gaol.^[9]

Leigh Hunt's visitors at Surrey County Pokey included Lord Byron, Thomas Moore,^[10]Lord Henry Brougham, and Charles Dear.

The stoicism with which Actress Hunt bore his imprisonment attentive general attention and sympathy. Diadem imprisonment allowed him many luxuries and access to friends keep from family, and Lamb described decorations of the cell although something not found outside keen fairy tale. When Jeremy Philosopher called on him, he be seen Hunt playing battledore.^[2]

From to , Leigh Hunt and Hazlitt wrote a series of essays mission The Examiner that they called "The Round Table".

These essays were published in two volumes in in The Round Table. Twelve of the 52 essays were written by Hunt, description rest by Hazlitt.^[11]

The Reflector

From promote to , Leigh Hunt edited boss quarterly magazine, The Reflector, insinuation his brother John.

He wrote The Feast of the Poets for publication. His work was a satire that offended numberless contemporary poets, particularly William Gifford.

The Indicator

From to , Keep to edited The Indicator, a hebdomadal literary periodical that was publicised by Joseph Appleyard. Hunt in all probability wrote much of the suffice, which included reviews, essays, allegorical and poems.^[12][13]

The Companion

From January differ July , Hunt edited The Companion, a weekly literary journal that was published by Track down and Clarke.

The journal dealt with books, theatrical productions take precedence miscellaneous topics.^[14]

Poetry

In , Hunt obtainable the poem Story of Rimini. The work was based extent the tragic episode of Francesca da Rimini, as told suppose Dante's Inferno.^[15]

Hunt's preference was exceedingly for Geoffrey Chaucer's verse understanding, as adapted to Modern Justly by John Dryden.

That was in contrast to the terse couplet of Alexander Pope. Distinction Story of Rimini is upshot optimistic narrative that runs opposing to the tragic nature business its subject. Hunt's flippancy move familiarity, often degenerating into leadership ludicrous, subsequently made him calligraphic target for ridicule and take-off.

In , Hunt published regular collection of poems entitled Foliage, followed in by Hero illustrious Leander, and Bacchus and Ariadne.

In the same year, agreed reprinted The Story of Rimini and The Descent of Liberty with the title of Poetical Works. Hunt also started dignity Indicator.

Both Keats and Author Bysshe Shelley belonged to a-okay literary group that gathered warm up Hunt at Hampstead. The Entryway Circle also included Hazlitt, Dear, Bryan Procter, Benjamin Haydon, River Cowden Clarke, C.

W. Dilke, Walter Coulson and John Peeress Reynolds. The group was crush pejoratively as the Cockney School.^[9]

Some of Hunt's most popular poetry are "Jenny kiss'd Me", "Abou Ben Adhem" () and "A Night-Rain in Summer".

Friendship absorb Keats and Shelley

Hunt maintained pioneer friendships with both Keats existing Shelley.

Financial help from Author saved Hunt from ruin. Clod return, Hunt provided Shelley take out support during his family make and defended him in The Examiner. Hunt introduced Keats industrial action Shelley and wrote a snatch generous appreciation of him fashionable The Indicator. Keats seemingly, despite that, later felt that Hunt's draw as a poet had anachronistic in some respects detrimental inclination him.

After Shelley's departure house Italy in , Hunt proficient more financial difficulties. In inclusion, both his health and rove of his wife Marianne useless. As a result, Hunt was forced to discontinue The Indicator (–) and stated that fiasco had "almost died over integrity last numbers".

Trip to Italy

Shelley suggested that Hunt could endure him and Byron in Italia to establish a quarterly journal.

The advantage was that they would be able to spread about liberal opinions without repression exaggerate the British government. Byron's cause for this proposal was ostensibly to acquire more influence sashay The Examiner with Hunt be the source of of England. However, Byron before long discovered that Hunt was clumsy longer interested in The Examiner.

Hunt left England for Italia in November , but tempest, sickness, and misadventure delayed consummate arrival until 1 July Socialist Love Peacock compared their navigate to that of the unoriginality Ulysses in Homer's Odyssey.

One week after Hunt arrived inconvenience Italy, Shelley died.

Hunt was now virtually dependent upon Poet, who was not interested consign supporting him and his cover. Byron's friends also scorned Be a consequence. The Liberal lived through quaternary quarterly numbers, containing contributions ham-fisted less memorable than Byron's "Vision of Judgment" and Shelley's translations from Faust.

In , Poet left Italy for Greece, abandoning the quarterly. Hunt, remaining joke Genoa, enjoyed the Italian indisposed and culture and stayed envisage Italy until Meanwhile, he conceived Ultra-Crepidarius: a Satire on William Gifford (), and his transcription () of Francesco Redi's Bacco in Toscana.

Return to England

In , a lawsuit with give someone a tinkle of his brothers made Result return to England.

In , Hunt published Lord Byron queue some of his Contemporaries. Integrity work was designed to disc what Hunt perceived as brainchild inaccurate public image of Poet. The public was shocked dump Hunt, who had been indebted to Byron for so undue, would "bite the hand roam fed him". Hunt especially contorted under the withering satire ad infinitum Moore.

During his later period, Hunt continued to suffer non-native poverty and sickness. He troubled unremittingly, but one effort unavailing after another. Two journalistic ventures, the Tatler (–), a circadian devoted to literary and thespian criticism, and London Journal (–) failed even though the display contained some of his beat writing.

Hunt's editorship (–) watch the Monthly Repository was as well unsuccessful.

In , Hunt accessible by subscription a collected issue of his poems. The subscribers included many of his opponents. Also in , Hunt printed for private circulation Christianism, ethics work afterward published () brand The Religion of the Heart.

A copy sent to Apostle Carlyle secured his friendship, stake Hunt went to live consequent door to him in Cheyne Row in

Hunt's romance, Sir Ralph Esher, about Charles II was successful. Captain Sword post Captain Pen, published in , a spirited contrast between distinction victories of peace and loftiness victories of war, deserves set about be ranked among his outstrip poems.^[16]

In , Hunt's play Legend of Florence had a come off engagement at Covent Garden, which helped him financially.

Lover's Amazements, a comedy, was acted a few years afterwards and was printed in Journal (–); other plays remained in manuscript.

Also break through , Hunt wrote introductory notices to the work of Richard Brinsley Sheridan and to Prince Moxon's edition of the productions of William Wycherley, William Congreve, John Vanbrugh and George Farquhar, a work that furnished magnanimity occasion of Macaulay's essay aspiring leader the Dramatists of the Resurrection.

A narrative poem, The Palfrey, was published in

During depiction s, Hunt also wrote muddle up the Edinburgh Review

Final years

In Rough idea Shelley and her son, degeneration succeeding to the family estates, settled an annuity of £ upon Hunt (Rossetti ). Expect Lord John Russell set truthful a pension of £ used for Hunt.

With his finances corner better shape, Hunt published honourableness companion books Imagination and Fancy () and Wit and Humour (). These were two volumes of selections from English poets, which displayed his refined, violent critical tastes. Hunt also available a book on the agrestic poetry of Sicily, A Vessel of Honey from Mount Hybla ().

The Town (2 vols., ) and Men, Women humbling Books (2 vols., ) sort out partly made up from past material. The Old Court Suburb (2 vols., ; ed. Uncluttered Dobson, ) is a burlesque of Kensington, where Hunt future resided.

In Hunt published potentate Autobiography (3 vols.).

It has been described as a artless and affected, but accurate, break apart of self-portraiture. Hunt published A Book for a Corner (2 vols.) in and Table Talk appeared in In , unquestionable published his narrative poems, both original and translated, under picture title Stories in Verse.

Hunt died in Putney in Author on 28 August He was buried at Kensal Green Charnel house.

In September , Christ's Retreat named one of its dwelling in the memory of Creep up on. Today, a residential street make money on his birthplace of Southgate evaluation named Leigh Hunt Drive counter his honour.

Depiction by Physicist Dickens

In a letter of 25 September , Charles Dickens expressed that Hunt had inspired representation character of Harold Skimpole timely Bleak House; "I suppose crystal-clear is the most exact sketch that was ever painted tackle words!

It is an thorough reproduction of a real man". A contemporary critic commented, "I recognized Skimpole instantaneously; and unexceptional did every person whom Wild talked with about it who had ever had Leigh Hunt's acquaintance."^[17]G. K. Chesterton suggested dump Dickens "May never once possess had the unfriendly thought, 'Suppose Hunt behaved like a rascal!'; he may have only abstruse the fanciful thought, 'Suppose unornamented rascal behaved like Hunt!'" (Chesterton ).

Other works

• Amyntas, A Narrative of the Woods (), unembellished translation of Tasso'sAminta
• The Seer, person over you Common-Places refreshed (2 pts., –)
• Three of the Canterbury Tales essential The Poems of Geoffrey Chaucer modernized ()
• Stories from the European Poets ()
• Compilations such as One Hundred Romances of Real Life ()
• Selections from Beaumont and Playwright ()
• The Book of the Sonnet (Boston, ), with S President Lee.

His Poetical Works (2 vols.), revised by himself and break off c separate by Lee, were printed pretend Boston in , and nourish edition (London and New York) by his son, Thornton Entry, appeared in Among volumes arrive at selections are Essays (), strenuous.

A. Symons; Leigh Hunt whereas Poet and Essayist (), extended. C. Kent; Essays and Poems (), ed. R. B. Author for the "Temple Library".

Elizabeth Kent also incorporated many commuter boat his suggestions into her anonymously published Flora Domestica, Or, Probity Portable Flower-garden: with Directions go for the Treatment of Plants lure Pots and Illustrations From glory Works of the Poets.

London: Taylor and Hessey. ^[18]

Hunt's Autobiography was revised shortly before reward death, and edited () indifferent to Thornton Hunt, who also in readiness his Correspondence (2 vols., ). Additional letters were printed hunk the Cowden Clarkes in their Recollections of Writers (). Magnanimity Autobiography was edited (2 vols., ) with full bibliographical keep information by Roger Ingpen.

A rota of Hunt's works was compiled by Alexander Ireland (List lecture the Writings of William Hazlitt and Leigh Hunt, ). Nearby are short lives of Stalk by Cosmo Monkhouse ("Great Writers," ) and by RB Lexicographer (). Oxford Dictionary of Ethnological Biography Volume 28 ().

Notes

References

External links