author
Alfred Austin
1835–1913
Best known for succeeding Tennyson as Poet Laureate, he mixed poetry with journalism and public commentary in late Victorian Britain. His career was often debated, which makes him a memorable figure in the literary world he served.
2 Audiobooks
The Bridling of Pegasus: Prose Papers on Poetry
by Alfred Austin
Lamia's Winter-Quarters
by Alfred Austin
About the author
Born near Leeds in 1835, Alfred Austin was educated at Stonyhurst, Oscott, and the University of London. Although he was called to the bar, he became better known for writing, building a career as a poet, journalist, and critic.
He published verse, prose, and political commentary, and in 1896 he was appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, a role he held until his death in 1913. That appointment, coming after Alfred, Lord Tennyson, made him especially visible and also helped shape his lasting reputation.
Today, he is remembered less for a single famous poem than for his place in literary history: a prolific Victorian man of letters whose work sat at the crossroads of literature, politics, and public life.