Thomas Bridges (dramatist and parodist) facts for kids

Thomas Bridges was an English writer who lived from around 1710 to 1775. He wrote funny stories (called parodies), plays, and one novel. He was born in Hull, a city in England. His father was a doctor. Thomas Bridges first worked as a wine merchant and later became a partner in a bank.

Writing Funny Stories

Thomas Bridges was known for his "parodies" and "burlesques." These are types of writing that make fun of serious works by imitating them in a humorous way.

Making Fun of Homer

In 1762, Thomas Bridges published a book called A Travestie of Homer. He used the pen name (a fake name for writing) "Caustic Barebones" for this book. It was a funny version of Homer's famous ancient Greek poem, the Iliad. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. Bridges' funny version became quite popular and was printed many times, even up until 1797.

Parodying Paradise Lost

Later, in 1765, he wrote another burlesque called The Battle of the Genii. This book made fun of Paradise Lost, a very famous and serious poem by John Milton.

His Novels and Plays

Besides his funny parodies, Thomas Bridges also wrote a novel and two plays.

His Only Novel

His only novel was called The Adventures of a Bank-Note. It was published in 1770. A novel is a long story, usually with made-up characters and events.

Plays for the Stage

Thomas Bridges wrote two plays that were performed in theaters:

• Dido (1771): This was a comic opera, which is a type of play that tells a story through singing, but it's usually light and funny. It was shown at the Haymarket Theatre and had music written by James Hook.
• The Dutchman (1775): This was another musical show, also with music by James Hook.