Robert Dodsley facts for kids
Robert Dodsley (born February 13, 1703 – died September 23, 1764) was a very important English person. He was a bookseller (someone who sells books), a publisher (someone who prints and sells books), a poet (someone who writes poems), a playwright (someone who writes plays), and a writer of many different things. He helped many famous writers get their work published.
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Robert Dodsley's Early Life and Career
Robert Dodsley was born near a town called Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. His father was the head of the local free school there.
When he was young, Robert worked as a footman, which was like a servant. But he loved books and writing. He started writing poems and plays, and they became quite popular. Famous friends, like the poet Alexander Pope, even helped him with money. Pope lent him £100, which was a lot back then!
In 1735, Dodsley used this help to open his own bookstore and publishing house in Pall Mall, London. His shop was called "Tully's Head."
Becoming a Top Publisher
Robert Dodsley quickly became one of the most important publishers of his time. He worked with many well-known writers.
- One of his first big publications was a poem called London by Samuel Johnson in 1738. Dodsley paid Johnson ten guineas for it, which was a good amount of money.
- He published many more of Johnson's works. He even suggested and helped pay for Johnson's huge book, Dictionary.
- The famous poet Alexander Pope also trusted Dodsley with his letters to publish.
- Dodsley published works for other important writers like Edward Young, Mark Akenside, and Thomas Gray. He published Gray's famous poem Elegy in 1751.
- He also worked with John Baskerville, a printer known for his new and clear typefaces.
In 1738, a play called Manners by Paul Whitehead was published. Some powerful people in the House of Lords thought it was wrong. This led to Dodsley being held for a short time, but he was soon released.
Retirement and Later Life
In 1759, Robert Dodsley decided to retire from his business. He handed it over to his younger brother, James, who had been his partner for many years.
Robert Dodsley passed away on September 23, 1764. He was visiting his friend Joseph Spence in Durham at the time. He was buried there.
Robert Dodsley's Writings
Robert Dodsley was not just a publisher; he was also a talented writer himself.
- In 1729, he published his first work, a poem called Servitude: a Poem written by a Footman.
- In 1732, he released a collection of his poems called A Muse in Livery, or the Footman's Miscellany. Many important people subscribed to get a copy.
- He wrote a funny play called The Toy-Shop in 1735. In this play, a toymaker shares wise thoughts about his toys.
- In 1737, his play King and the Miller of Mansfield was a big hit at the Drury Lane theater. It was about King Henry II. A follow-up play, Sir John Cockle at Court, came out in 1738.
- Dodsley also wrote The Oeconomy of Human Life in 1750. This book was a collection of good advice, written in a style that sounded like old religious texts.
Famous Collections He Edited
Dodsley is perhaps best known for two large collections of writings he put together:
- Old Plays: He edited the Select Collection of Old Plays (12 volumes, 1744). This collection helped save many old plays from being forgotten. Later editions were even bigger.
- Poems: He also created A Collection of Poems by Several Hands (1748, 3 volumes). He wanted to make sure that good poems, which might otherwise be lost, would be remembered. Because he knew so many writers, he filled three volumes quickly. Later, he added more volumes, making it a six-volume set.
Other Works and Periodicals
Dodsley continued to write and publish many other works:
- He wrote a play called The Triumph of Peace (1749).
- His long poem about farming, Agriculture, came out in 1753.
- His play Cleone (1758) was very popular. Thousands of copies were sold on the first day, and it went through four printings in just one year!
Dodsley also started several important magazines and journals:
- The Museum (1746–1767)
- The Preceptor (1748), which was a guide to education and included an introduction by Dr. Johnson.
- The World (1753–1756)
- The Annual Register (founded in 1758), which was a yearly record of events. Edmund Burke, a very famous writer and politician, was its first editor.
Many important people contributed to these publications, including Horace Walpole, Soame Jenyns, and Lord Chesterfield.
Towards the end of his life, Dodsley published more successful books. He released The Select Fables of Esop in 1761, adding new fables he and his friends wrote. This book stayed popular for many years. He also published the Works of William Shenstone after Shenstone passed away, carefully choosing the best pieces to honor his friend.
Images for kids
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Robert Dodsley by Reynolds, 1760.
See also
- Book trade in the United Kingdom
- List of 18th-century British working-class writers
