author
Horace Smith
1779–1849
Best known for sparkling literary parody, this Regency-era writer moved easily between humor, poetry, and fiction. His work captures the wit of early 19th-century London while still feeling light on its feet.
1 Audiobook
Rejected Addresses; Or, The New Theatrum Poetarum
by James Smith, Horace Smith
About the author
Born Horatio Smith in London on December 31, 1779, he became known as Horace Smith and built a career as an English poet and novelist. He was also a stockbroker, a combination that gave him a practical footing while he moved in lively literary circles.
He is most often remembered for coauthoring Rejected Addresses with his brother James Smith in 1812, a collection of parodies that became a classic of comic writing. He also took part in the famous sonnet competition with Percy Bysshe Shelley inspired by the story of Ozymandias, which helped secure his place in literary history.
Alongside his verse and humor, he wrote novels and remained an active man of letters until his death at Tunbridge Wells on July 12, 1849. His reputation rests on charm, cleverness, and an easy satirical touch rather than grand seriousness, which makes him an inviting author for modern listeners.