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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: A selection from the works of Alfred Tennyson, D.C.L., Poet Laureate.

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  • Cover of: Selections from Tennyson, 1830-1860
    First published in 1906 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Some poems by Alfred Lord Tennyson
    First published in 1901 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Ausgewählte Gedichte.: Im Versmaass des Originals

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  • Cover of: Choric song from Tennyson's 'Lotos-eaters'

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  • Cover of: Early poems.: Edited with a critical introd., commentaries and notes, together with the various readings, a transcript of the poems temporarily and finally suppressed and a bibliography by John Churton Collins.

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  • Cover of: Holly from Tennyson
    First published in 1900 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Immortelles in loving memory of England's poet laureate: selections from the writings of Alfred, lord Tennyson

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  • Cover of: Maud and Locksley Hall
    First published in 1909 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: The princess, Maud, and other poems
    First published in 1900 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Sea-fairies, and other poems
    First published in 1890 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Selections from Tennyson's Idylls of the King

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  • Cover of: The story of Idylls of the king
    First published in 1912 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

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  • Cover of: Poetic and dramatic works
    First published in 1898 2 editions in 1 language — 2 previewable Cover of edition poeticdramaticwo00tennuoft

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  • Cover of: Idylls of the king
    First published in 1938 2 editions in 1 language — 2 previewable Cover of edition idyllsofking0000tenn_n9p8

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  • Cover of: Poems
    First published in 1857 2 editions in 1 language — 2 previewable Cover of edition poems00tenn_3

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  • Cover of: Poems
    First published in 2020 2 editions in 1 language

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  • Cover of: Prentice Hall Literature: Reader's Companion: Bronze Level

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  • Cover of: Nast's illustrated almanac

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  • Cover of: A portentous history
    First published in 1911 2 editions in 1 language — 2 previewable Cover of edition portentoushistor00tennuoft

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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