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Last edited by Tom Morris
February 12, 2024 | History

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

British Poet Laureate (1809–1892)

Born 6 August 1809
Died 6 October 1892

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  • Cover of: Poems of Tennyson
    First published in 1917 5 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: The poetical works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson: complete edition from the author's text, with numerous illustrations by English and American artists

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  • Cover of: Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices Timeless Themes: The British Tradition

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  • Cover of: Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices Timeless Themes: Bronze Level

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  • Cover of: Suppressed poems of ALfred Lord Tennyson: 1830-1862 : including the prize poem "Timbuctoo" and the original (1833) version of "The lover's tale"

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  • Cover of: Alfred Tennyson
    First published in 1900 4 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Beauties of Tennyson.: Illustrations by Frederic B. Schell.

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  • Cover of: Enid
    First published in 1868 4 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Locksley hall: Day dream, and other poems

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  • Cover of: The lotos eaters.: With designs by T.R.R.P.

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  • Cover of: The lover's tale
    First published in 1879 4 editions in 1 language — 2 previewable Cover of edition loverstale00tennuoft

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  • Cover of: Selected Idylls of the king: The coming of Arthur, The Holy Grail, The passing of Arthur

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  • Cover of: Works, annotated.: Edited by Hallam Lord Tennyson.

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  • Cover of: The works of Alfred Tennyson, poet laureate.

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  • Cover of: Poems of Imagination and Fancy
    First published in 1865 4 editions in 1 language — 3 previewable Cover of edition poemsofimaginati00tennuoft Cover of edition poemsimaginatio00tenngoog

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  • Cover of: The poems and plays of Alfred lord Tennyson.

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  • Cover of: In Memoriam
    First published in 1862 4 editions — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: The Complete Works Of Alfred Tennyson
    First published in 1870 4 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: A Treasury of Christmas classics

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  • Cover of: Alabama: Prentice Hall Literature

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British Poet Laureate (1809–1892)

Born 6 August 1809
Died 6 October 1892

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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