Edward Dowden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Dowden
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| Born | 3 May 1843 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 4 April 1913 (aged 69) Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Critic, professor, and poet |
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Edward Dowden was an important Irish writer, teacher, and critic. He was born on May 3, 1843, and passed away on April 4, 1913. He is famous for his studies of William Shakespeare and other great writers.
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About Edward Dowden
Edward Dowden was born in Cork, Ireland. His father, John Wheeler Dowden, was a merchant. Edward showed a love for writing very early. When he was just twelve, he wrote many essays. He studied at home and later at Queen's College, Cork and Trinity College, Dublin. He also wrote for a student magazine called Kottabos.
Edward had a very successful time at university. He became the president of the Philosophical Society. He also won awards for his English writing. In 1867, he became a professor of English literature at Dublin University.
His Work on Shakespeare
Edward Dowden became very well-known for his work on William Shakespeare. His first book, Shakspere: A Critical Study of His Mind and Art (1875), was a big success. It was even translated into German and Russian. He also wrote a simpler book called Shakespeare Primer (1877). This book was translated into Italian and German too.
In 1878, he received a special award for his writings about Shakespeare. He also edited Shakespeare's Sonnets and wrote about plays like Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. He explored Shakespeare's works deeply.
Other Literary Interests
Dowden was interested in many other writers besides Shakespeare. He wrote about famous poets like Percy Bysshe Shelley and Robert Southey. He also edited their works. His book The Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley (1886) became very popular.
He also studied the works of William Wordsworth and Robert Browning. Dowden was a big fan of the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He even became the president of the English Goethe Society in 1888.
His Influence and Later Life
Edward Dowden's wide interests made him a very important critic. He believed that literature should be connected to real life. He also served as a commissioner of education in Ireland. He was a trustee of the National Library of Ireland.
Dowden was married twice. His first wife was Mary Clerke, and his second was Elizabeth Dickinson West. His daughter, Hester Dowden, became a well-known spiritualist. Edward Dowden passed away in Dublin. His letters were published after his death.
Images for kids
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A Dublin City Council plaque, unveiled on 29th November 2016, commemorating Prof. Dowden.
