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- BIOGRAPHY
Son of Erasmus Dryden, John was born in 1631 in Aldwincle. After studying at Cambridge, he went to London in 1657 where he wrote several plays and satires for the court. His first successful play, written in heroic couplets, was _The Indian Emperor_ (1665). After 1676 he began to write in blank verse, producing his best play, _All for Love_ (1678). In 1668 he became Poet Laureate and, in 1670, historiographer royal. Called to defend the king's party, he wrote a series of satires, notably _Absalom and Achitophel_ (1681) which did much to turn the tide against the Whigs. To this era also belong the didactic poem _Religio laici_ (1682) which argues the case for Anglicanism, and _The Hind and the Panther_ (1687) marking his conversion to Catholicism. His political reward was a place in the customs; but lost his laureateship, in 1688, on the accession of William III. He also wrote a number of important critical works, many in his late years. He died 1 May 1700.
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