John Reynolds (writer) facts for kids
John Reynolds (born around 1588, died around 1655) was an English merchant and writer from Exeter. He wrote many exciting stories, especially about adventure and mystery. He also wrote about politics, which led to him being held by the government for a time.
Contents
About John Reynolds
His Life
John Reynolds traveled to France for his business and likely lived there starting in 1619. His political writings caused him to be sent back from France and held by James I of England in 1624. He got married in 1626 and again in 1644. Records show he was alive in 1655, but not after that year.
His Writings
Reynolds wrote different kinds of works, including stories that taught lessons, poems, and political pamphlets. He also translated books from French into English.
Exciting Stories
In 1621, he published the first part of his exciting stories. He pretended these stories were translated from French, but he actually wrote them himself. The main title for this series of books was The Triumphs of God's Revenge against the crying and execrable Sinne of Murther. Five more similar collections followed this first one, each in its own book. These tales stayed popular for a long time and even inspired famous plays like The Changeling and The Maid's Revenge.
In 1635, all six parts were put together into one book. This collection was reissued in 1639 and again in 1640. A Dutch translation of his stories was published in Amsterdam in 1667.
Poetry
One of his early works was a poem called Dolarnys Primrose, published in 1606. In 1650, Reynolds published a story with poems mixed in, similar to the famous Arcadia. This work was called The Flower of Fidelitie: displaying, in a continuate historie, the various adventures of three foreign princes. A later edition, with some changes, was called the Garden of Love (1721). Reynolds dedicated this story to his father-in-law, William Waltham. He is also known for another poem, Love's Laurel Garland, which was never published.
Political Pamphlets
Around 1624, Reynolds wrote political pamphlets like Vox coeli and Votivae Angliae. These pamphlets were about important political events of the time, such as a possible royal marriage for the prince and a big war happening in Europe (the Thirty Years' War). Some people thought another writer, Thomas Scott, wrote these pamphlets.
Translations
John Reynolds also translated books written by French authors:
- A Treatise of the Court (1622), translated from Eustache de Refuge's French work. He dedicated this book to Charles, Prince of Wales.
- The Judgment of Humane Actions (1629), translated from Leonard Marrauld's French work.
- The Divine Pourtrait (1631), translated from Jean Mestrezat's French work.
