Abraham Cowley
6 books
About the Author
Abraham Cowley (1618-1667) was a pioneering English poet and essayist whose innovative verse and prose profoundly influenced the literary landscape of the 17th century. Born in London, he demonstrated prodigious talent from a young age, publishing his first collection, Poetical Blossoms, at just fifteen. A staunch royalist during the English Civil War, Cowley went into exile with the court of Charles I, where he continued to write works blending classical allusions with personal introspection. Renowned for his mastery of the metaphysical style, he explored themes of love, nature, and mortality with wit and intellectual depth. His essays, particularly in 'Several Discourses by Way of Essays, in Verse and Prose,' prefigured the modern form, while his poetry, including the influential 'Pindarique Odes,' broke new ground in form and expression. Cowley's legacy endures through anthologies like The Complete Harvard Classics - ALL 71 Volumes: The Five Foot Shelf & The Shelf of Fiction: The Famous Anthology of the Greatest Works of World Literature, which immortalize his contributions to English literature.
Writing style
metaphysical
witty
elegant
Books by Abraham Cowley
