Andrew Marvell

"Andrew Marvell" by Augustine Birrell is a biographical account written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the life and legacy of Andrew Marvell, a prominent poet, politician, and contemporary of Milton, who played an influential role during the English Commonwealth and Restoration periods. The biography explores Marvell's multifaceted character as a writer, scholar, and civil servant, focusing on his contributions to poetry and politics. The opening of the biography introduces Marvell's early life, highlighting his upbringing in a scholarly household and his education, which laid the foundation for his future pursuits. Augustine Birrell reflects on Marvell's elusive nature as a historical figure, noting that while many details of his life, such as his education at Cambridge, his poetry, and his political endeavors, are well-documented, there remains a profound lack of personal insight into Marvell's character. Birrell presents the poignant context of Marvell's life against the backdrop of 17th-century England, setting the stage for a detailed exploration of his influential works and political involvement as the narrative unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Augustine Birrell KC was a British Liberal Party politician, who was Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1907 to 1916. In this post, he was praised for enabling tenant farmers to own their property, and for extending university education for Catholics, but was criticised for failing to take action against the rebels before the Easter Rising, leading to his subsequent resignation. A barrister by training, he was also an author, noted for humorous essays.