Literature

Ben Jonson

orn in Westminster in 1573 to a bricklayer. After school he went into his father's business, and later did voluntary military work in Flanders. In 1598, at the age of 25, he began acting in a theatre company. He was a good friend of William Shakespeare. He is believed to have had a long and varied career, including completing a sentence in prison for killing a fellow actor in a duel. As a dramatist, Jonson is well known for "Every Man in his Humour" (which Shakespeare acted in), Sejanus, Volpone, The Alchemist,

Bartholonew Fair and The Devil is an Ass. His best plays are comedies, yet he also wrote some tragedies. Jonson also produced masques, elaborate musical entertainment.

Writing poetry, his most successful verse form was lyric poetry. His well-known works include To the

Memory of My Beloved Mother, To the Memory of my Beloved Master, To Celia. The latter was very popular in its day, as it is today by music lovers. In 1603, at the age of 30, Jonson was given the title Poet Laureate when James the first ascended the English Throne. Jonson died in 1637 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.