The Poetry of John Dryden: England's first Poet Laureate that turned literature in Restoration England into "the Age Of Dryden"

John Dryden was born on August 9th, 1631 in the village rectory of Aldwincle near Thrapston in Northamptonshire and grew up in a nearby village. In 1644 he was sent to Westminster School as a King's Scholar and then obtained his BA in 1654, graduating top of the list for Trinity College, Cambridge that year.

Returning to London during The Protectorate, Dryden found work with Cromwell's Secretary of State, John Thurloe. At Cromwell's funeral on November 23rd 1658 he found company with the Pu...