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Last edited by Tom Morris
February 12, 2024 | History

Alfred Lord Tennyson

6 August 1809 - 6 October 1892

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS, much better known as "Alfred, Lord Tennyson," was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language.

Tennyson excelled at penning short lyrics, "In the valley of Cauteretz", "Break, Break, Break", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "Tears, Idle Tears" and "Crossing the Bar". Much of his verse was based on classical mythological themes, such as Ulysses, although In Memoriam A.H.H. was written to commemorate his best friend Arthur Hallam, a fellow poet and fellow student at Trinity College, Cambridge, who was engaged to Tennyson's sister, but died from a cerebral hemorrhage before they were married. Tennyson also wrote some notable blank verse including Idylls of the King, Ulysses, and Tithonus. During his career, Tennyson attempted drama, but his plays enjoyed little success.

Tennyson wrote a number of phrases that have become commonplaces of the English language, including: "Nature, red in tooth and claw", "'Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all", "Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die", "My strength is as the strength of ten, / Because my heart is pure", "Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers", and "The old order changeth, yielding place to new". He is the second most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations after Shakespeare.1

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  • Cover of: Selected poems: containing the selections prescribed for the Junior Matriculation and Junior Leaving Examinations, 1904.  Edited with introd. and notes by W.J. Alexander.

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  • Cover of: Tennyson's Idylls of the king: The coming of Arthur; Gareth and Lynette; Lancelot and Elaine; Guinevere; The passing of Arthur

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  • Cover of: The princess: a medley

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  • Cover of: Poems
    First published in 1907 53 editions in 1 language

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  • Cover of: Enoch Arden
    First published in 1864 52 editions in 5 languages — 21 previewable Cover of edition enochardenetc00tennrich Cover of edition enocharden02tenn Cover of edition enocharden00tennuoft Cover of edition enocharden00tenn Cover of edition enochardenpoem00tennuoft Cover of edition enocharden1889tenn Cover of edition enochardenwithin00tennuoft Cover of edition enochardenillust00tennuoft Cover of edition enochardentrad00tenn

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  • Cover of: In memoriam.

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  • Cover of: The poetry of Tennyson

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  • Cover of: The poetical works of Alfred Tennyson ....

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  • Cover of: Maud, and other poems

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  • Cover of: Poems by Alfred Tennyson
    First published in 1833 28 editions in 1 language — 2 previewable Cover of edition poemsbyalfredte00tenngoog

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  • Cover of: Queen Mary: a drama

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  • Cover of: The works of Alfred Lord Tennyson: poet Laureate.

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  • Cover of: The Holy Grail and other poems

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  • Cover of: Select poems.: Edited with notes by William J. Rolfe.

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  • Cover of: The lady of Shalott

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  • Cover of: Becket
    First published in 1884 18 editions in 1 language — 3 previewable Cover of edition Becket1894 Cover of edition cu31924013558972

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  • Cover of: Enoch Arden, &c
    First published in 1864 18 editions in 1 language — 7 previewable Cover of edition enochardenc00tennrich Cover of edition enochardenc00tenn Cover of edition cihm_77054 Cover of edition enochardenc03tenngoog Cover of edition enochardenc02tenngoog Cover of edition enochardenetcet00tenngoog

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  • Cover of: Harold: a drama
    First published in 1877 16 editions in 1 language — 4 previewable Cover of edition cihm_33768 Cover of edition harolddrama00tennuoft Cover of edition haroldadrama00tenngoog

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  • Cover of: The princess: a medley

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  • Cover of: Gareth and Lynette, etc

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Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
February 12, 2024 Edited by Tom Morris Remove bad AKAs
September 13, 2023 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors
September 3, 2023 Edited by David Scotson Added new photo
March 21, 2022 Edited by JeneeWhitney merge authors
April 1, 2008 Created by an anonymous user initial import