Aaron Hill (writer) facts for kids

Aaron Hill (born February 10, 1685 – died February 8, 1750) was an English writer. He was known for writing many plays and different kinds of stories and poems.

About Aaron Hill

Aaron Hill grew up in Wiltshire, England. He went to Westminster School and later traveled to countries in the East. He wrote 17 plays, which are stories meant to be acted on a stage. Some of his plays were his own versions of famous works by a French writer named Voltaire, like Zaire and Mérope. He also wrote poetry, which is writing that uses rhythm and often rhyme.

Aaron Hill was a friend of the famous writer Samuel Richardson. Hill really liked Richardson's book Pamela. Besides writing, Aaron Hill also tried many business ideas, but they didn't always work out.

His Time at Drury Lane Theatre

When Aaron Hill was 24 years old, he became the manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. This was a very important theatre in London. During his time there, he helped put on the very first performance of George Frideric Handel's opera Rinaldo. An opera is a play where most of the words are sung. This was the first Italian opera made especially for people in London. Handel was very involved in making the show. Aaron Hill also helped write the words for the opera, called the libretto, though exactly how much he helped is still debated. He was later fired from this job, but we don't know why.

His Writings and Publications

In 1724, Aaron Hill started a newspaper or magazine called The Plain Dealer. It came out twice a week. After he passed away, a collection of his essays, letters, and poems was published in 1753. His plays were collected and published in 1760. His life story was also written down in books about famous poets.

Selected Works

Here are some of the works Aaron Hill wrote:

• A Full and Just Account of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1709)
• Elfrid (1710) – a play
• The Walking Statue; Or, the Devil in the Wine Cellar (1710) – a funny play called a farce
• Squire Brainless (1710) – a farce
• The Fatal Vision (1716) – a play
• Fatal Extravagance (1721) – a play
• King Henry the Fifth: Or, the Conquest of France, By the English. A Tragedy. (1723)
• Athelwold (1731) – a new version of his play Elfrid
• The Plain Dealer (1724) – essays written with William Bond
• The Progress of Wit, being a caveat for the use of an Eminent Writer (1730)
• The Prompter (1735) – essays
• Zara (performed 1736) – based on Voltaire's work
• Mérope (1749) – based on Voltaire's work
• The Roman Revenge (1754) – based on Voltaire's work
• The Insolvent, or Filial Piety (1758)
• Daraxes (published 1760) – a pastoral opera
• Merlin in Love (published 1760) – a pantomime opera
• The Muses in Mourning (published 1760) – an opera
• Saul (published 1760) – a tragedy
• A Snake in the Grass (published 1760) – a burlesque