author
Thomas Hood
1799–1845
Remembered for wit as well as feeling, this English poet and humorist wrote comic verse, magazine pieces, and powerful social poems that still stand out today. His best-known works include "The Song of the Shirt" and "The Bridge of Sighs."
4 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in London in 1799, he first trained as an engraver before turning more fully to writing. He became known for a rare mix of playful wordplay and deep sympathy, building a reputation as a poet, journalist, and humorist.
He wrote for major periodicals including The London Magazine, Athenaeum, and Punch, and also worked as an editor and publisher. Financial troubles and long illness marked much of his adult life, but his writing kept its energy and range.
Today he is especially remembered for poems that brought social suffering into sharp focus, especially The Song of the Shirt (1843), as well as for the haunting The Bridge of Sighs. He died in London in 1845, leaving behind work admired for both its comedy and its compassion.