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Last edited by Tom Morris
February 12, 2024 | History
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Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS, much better known as "Alfred, Lord Tennyson," was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language.

Tennyson excelled at penning short lyrics, "In the valley of Cauteretz", "Break, Break, Break", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "Tears, Idle Tears" and "Crossing the Bar". Much of his verse was based on classical mythological themes, such as Ulysses, although In Memoriam A.H.H. was written to commemorate his best friend Arthur Hallam, a fellow poet and fellow student at Trinity College, Cambridge, who was engaged to Tennyson's sister, but died from a cerebral hemorrhage before they were married. Tennyson also wrote some notable blank verse including Idylls of the King, Ulysses, and Tithonus. During his career, Tennyson attempted drama, but his plays enjoyed little success.

Tennyson wrote a number of phrases that have become commonplaces of the English language, including: "Nature, red in tooth and claw", "'Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all", "Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die", "My strength is as the strength of ten, / Because my heart is pure", "Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers", and "The old order changeth, yielding place to new". He is the second most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations after Shakespeare.1

Photo of Alfred Lord Tennyson

British Poet Laureate (1809–1892)

Born 6 August 1809
Died 6 October 1892

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  • Cover of: Selected poems: containing the selections prescribed for the Junior Matriculation and Junior Leaving Examinations, 1904. Edited with introd. and notes by W.J. Alexander.

    Cover of edition tennysonpoems01tennrich Cover of edition poemstennyson00tennrich Cover of edition poemstenn01tennuoft Cover of edition poemschosenedite00tennuoft Cover of edition selectedpoemscon00tennuoft Cover of edition poems9thed00tennuoft Cover of edition cu31924013558584 Cover of edition poemsalf01tenn Cover of edition poemstennocad00tennuoft First published in 1827 — 281 editions
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  • Cover of: Tennyson's Idylls of the king: The coming of Arthur; Gareth and Lynette; Lancelot and Elaine; Guinevere; The passing of Arthur

    Cover of edition tennysonsidyllso01tenn Cover of edition idylsofkingwithi00tennuoft Cover of edition idyllsofkingands000tenn Cover of edition idyllsofking03tenn Cover of edition tennysonsidyllso00tennrich Cover of edition idyllsofking00tennuoft Cover of edition idyllsofkingten00tennuoft Cover of edition idyllsofkingillust00tennuoft Cover of edition idyllsofking00ten First published in 1859 — 118 editions
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  • Cover of: The Princess: A Medley ...

    Cover of edition princessmedle00tenn Cover of edition princessmedley03tenn Cover of edition princessmedley00tennuoft Cover of edition medleyprincess00tennrich Cover of edition princess00tennuoft Cover of edition princessmalf00tenn Cover of edition princess00tenn Cover of edition princessmedleyed00tennuoft Cover of edition princessmedley12tenn First published in 1847 — 69 editions
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  • Cover of: Poems

    First published in 1907 — 53 editions
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  • Cover of: Enoch Arden: and In memoriam

    Cover of edition enochardenwithbi00tenn Cover of edition enochardenwitha00tennuoft Cover of edition enochardenpoem00tennuoft Cover of edition enocharden02tenn Cover of edition enocharden79tenn Cover of edition enocharden1899tenn Cover of edition enochardenausdem00tenn Cover of edition enocharden1889tenn Cover of edition enochardentrad00tenn First published in 1864 — 52 editions
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  • Cover of: In memoriam.: Annotated by the author.

    Cover of edition inmemoriamlovers00tenn Cover of edition inmemoriam00tennuoft Cover of edition inmemoriam00tenn Cover of edition inmemoriam01tenn Cover of edition inmemoriam00tennrich Cover of edition inmemoriam04tenn Cover of edition inmemoriam05tenn Cover of edition inmemoriamalfred00tennrich Cover of edition inmemoriam02tenn First published in 1850 — 49 editions
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  • Cover of: The poetry of Tennyson. --

    Cover of edition studiesintennyso00vand Cover of edition studiesintennyso00vanduoft Cover of edition poetryoftennyson00vandrich Cover of edition cu31924014158533 Cover of edition cu31924013561109 Cover of edition poetryoftennyson00vanduoft Cover of edition studiesintennys02dykegoog Cover of edition studiesintennys00dykegoog Cover of edition poetrytennyson00dykegoog First published in 1889 — 36 editions
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  • Cover of: The poetical works of Alfred Tennyson...

    Cover of edition poeticalworksofa04tenn Cover of edition worksofapoetical00tennrich Cover of edition poeticalwksalfre00tenniala Cover of edition poeticalworksofa08tenn Cover of edition poeticalworksofa10tenn Cover of edition worksofa00tennpoeticalrich Cover of edition ofapoeticalworks00tennrich Cover of edition poeticalworksofa05tenn Cover of edition cu31924013558469 First published in 1867 — 35 editions
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  • Cover of: Maud, and other poems

    Cover of edition maudotherpoems00tennrich Cover of edition maudotherpoems00tenniala Cover of edition maudotherpoems00tenn Cover of edition maudotherpoems00tennuoft Cover of edition maudpoem00tenn Cover of edition maud01tenn Cover of edition maudalfredlord00tennrich Cover of edition maud00tenn Cover of edition maudprfaceettr00tenn First published in 1855 — 34 editions
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  • Cover of: Poems by Alfred Tennyson

    Cover of edition poemsbyalfredte01tenngoog First published in 1833 — 28 editions
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  • Cover of: Queen Mary.: A drama.

    Cover of edition queenmaryadrama00tennuoft Cover of edition queenmary00tenn Cover of edition queenmaryalfred00tennuoft Cover of edition queenmarydrama02tenn Cover of edition queenmarydrama00tennrich Cover of edition queenmarydrama03tenn Cover of edition cihm_54479 Cover of edition queenmarydrama00tenn Cover of edition cihm_33771 First published in 1875 — 25 editions
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  • Cover of: The works of Alfred Lord Tennyson

    Cover of edition worksofalfredlor00tenniala Cover of edition worksalfredlord01tenn Cover of edition worksalfredlord07unkngoog Cover of edition worksalfredlord00tenngoog Cover of edition worksalfredlord06unkngoog First published in 1884 — 23 editions
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  • Cover of: The Holy Grail.

    Cover of edition holygrailwithint00tennuoft Cover of edition holygrailotherpo00tennuoft Cover of edition holygrailotherpo00tennrich Cover of edition holygrailwithdra00tennuoft Cover of edition holygrail01tenn Cover of edition theholygrailpoem00tennrich Cover of edition holygrailotherpo00tenn Cover of edition otherpoholygrail00tennrich Cover of edition holygrail02tenngoog First published in 1870 — 22 editions
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  • Cover of: Select poems: prescribed for the junior matriculation and junior teachers' examinations, 1911 : edited with brief notes by W. J. Alexander

    Cover of edition selectpoemsprescri00tenn Cover of edition cihm_77429 Cover of edition selectpoemswithi00tenn Cover of edition selectpoemscontain00tenn Cover of edition selectpoemsoften00tenn Cover of edition selectpoemsedi00tennuoft Cover of edition selectpoemsconta00tennuoft Cover of edition selectpoemsedite00tennuoft Cover of edition selectpoemsedit00tennuoft First published in 1890 — 19 editions
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  • Cover of: The lady of Shalott

    Cover of edition ladyofshalott00tenn Cover of edition ladyofshalott01tenn Cover of edition ladyofshalott0000tenn Cover of edition ladyofshalottvis00alfr First published in 1881 — 19 editions
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  • Cover of: Enoch Arden, Etc.: Etc

    Cover of edition enochardenc00tenn Cover of edition enochardenc1864tenn Cover of edition cihm_77054 Cover of edition enochardenetcet00tenngoog Cover of edition enochardenc03tenngoog Cover of edition enochardenc02tenngoog First published in 1864 — 18 editions
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  • Cover of: Becket, a tragedy, in a prologue and four acts: as arranged for the stage by Henry Irving and presented at the Lyceum Theatre on 6th February 1893

    Cover of edition Becket1894 Cover of edition becketbaron00tennuoft First published in 1884 — 18 editions
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  • Cover of: Harold: a drama

    Cover of edition harolddrama00tennuoft Cover of edition harolddrama00tennrich Cover of edition haroldadrama00tenngoog First published in 1877 — 16 editions
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  • Cover of: The Princess: recast as a drama

    Cover of edition princess1914tennuoft Cover of edition princessmedleywi00tenn Cover of edition princess1911tenn Cover of edition tennysonsprinces04tenn Cover of edition princess05tenn Cover of edition tennysonsprinces05tenn Cover of edition princess02tenn Cover of edition princess04tenn Cover of edition cihm_64615 First published in 1800 — 16 editions
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  • Cover of: Gareth and Lynette, etc

    Cover of edition garethlynettewit00tennuoft Cover of edition garethlynettelan00tenn Cover of edition garethlynette00tenn Cover of edition garethlynetteetc00tennrich Cover of edition garethlynetteetc00tennuoft Cover of edition garethandlynett00macagoog First published in 1872 — 15 editions
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Photo of Alfred Lord Tennyson

British Poet Laureate (1809–1892)

Born 6 August 1809
Died 6 October 1892

Subjects

Poetry, Poetry (poetic works by one author), Adaptations, Arthurian romances, English poetry, Tennyson, alfred tennyson, baron, 1809-1892, English literature, Illustrations, Knights and knighthood, Drama, English Manuscripts, Criticism and interpretation, Manuscripts, Facsimiles, Fiction, Specimens, Readers (Secondary), Forgeries, Literary forgeries and mystifications, Literature, Mystery and detective stories, detective fiction, American literature, History and criticism, Kings and rulers

Places

England, London, Cambridge, Amazon rainforest, Baker Street, Calcutta, Caribbean, India, Italy, Ship-Trap Island, Surrey, Tibet, Verona, Araby, Araby bazaar, Massachusetts, North Richmond Street, California, Great Britain, New York (State), Austin, Connecticut, Developing countries, France, Lincoln

People

Alfred Tennyson Tennyson Baron (1809-1892), Arthur King, Arthur Henry Hallam (1811-1833), John H. Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Abram, Archie, Balthasar, Benvolio, Duncan Ross, Escalus, Friar John, Friar Lawrence, General Zaroff, Gregory, Grimesby Roylott, Helen Stoner, Ivan, Jabez Wilson, John Clay, Juliet Capulet, Lady Capulet, Lady Montague, Mercutio, Mr. Merryweather

Time

19th century, 1890, 20th century, 1912, Henry II, 1154-1189

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Alternative names

  • Alfred Tennyson
  • Alfred Tennyson Tennyson
  • Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson Baron
  • Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron
  • Alfred Tennyson, Baron Tennyson
  • Tennyson
  • Lord Alfred Tennyson
  • Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson Baron.
  • Baron Alfred Tennyson Tennyson
  • [Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson Baron,]
  • Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson baron
  • ALFRED TENNYSON
  • Lord Tennyson
  • Lord Alfred, Tennyson
  • Tennnyson, Alfred Tennyson Baron
  • Tennyson, Alfred Baron
  • TENNYSON, Alfred Baron.
  • TENNYSON, ALFRED TENNYSON, BARON, 1809-1892.
  • Lord Tennyson Alfred
  • [Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson Baron]
  • Alfred Tennyson Baron 1809-1 Tennyson
  • Alfred Tennyson Baron Tennyson 1809-1
  • Lord Alfred Tennyson Baron
  • Alfred Tennyson Baron Tennyson
  • Baron Alfred Tennyson
  • Tennyson Alfred
  • Alfred TENNYSON
  • Tennyson A
  • ALFRED LORD TENNYSON
  • A.L. Tennyson

History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
February 12, 2024 Edited by Tom Morris Remove bad AKAs
September 13, 2023 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors
September 3, 2023 Edited by David Scotson Added new photo
March 21, 2022 Edited by JeneeWhitney merge authors
April 1, 2008 Created by an anonymous user initial import