author
George Wither
1588–1667
A prolific English poet, satirist, and hymn writer, he wrote through one of the most turbulent stretches of 17th-century England. His work ranges from sharp political pamphlets to songs and devotional verse that kept his name alive long after his own era.
2 Audiobooks
Pastoral Poems by Nicholas Breton, Selected Poetry by George Wither, and Pastoral Poetry by William Browne (of Tavistock)
by Nicholas Breton, William Browne, George Wither
About the author
Born in Bentworth, Hampshire, in 1588, George Wither lived through the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I, and Charles I, the English Civil War, the Commonwealth, and the Restoration. He studied for a time at Magdalen College, Oxford, left without taking a degree, and later made his way in London as a writer.
Wither became known for his enormous output and his unusual range. He wrote pastoral poetry, satire, hymns, emblems, and political pamphlets, often in a plain, direct style. Some of his books brought him real trouble: his satirical writing led to imprisonment, and his strong public views kept him close to the storms of his time.
Today he is remembered less for a single masterpiece than for the vivid record his writing gives of a restless, deeply engaged mind. At his best, his poems combine moral seriousness with flashes of lyric grace, and they offer a window into the literary and political life of 17th-century England.