Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
Author of Idylls of the King
About the Author
Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6, 1809 in Somersby, England. He attended Trinity College in Cambridge. Tennyson is chiefly known for his poetry, an art form that had interested him since the age of six. His best known work is the Idylls of the King. Tennyson was appointed Poet Laureate of show more England in 1850 and became the Baron of Aldworth and Farrington in 1883. Tennyson was still writing his his 80s, and died on October 6, 1892 near Haslemere, England. (Bowker Author Biography) If there were a contest for the title "greatest Victorian poet," Tennyson would in death, as in life, obtain the prize. He had the finest ear of any English poet, admitting to know the metrical value of every word in the English language except "scissors." In addition, his ability to evoke a closely rendered scene was unsurpassed. Therefore, although those who sought to attack Tennyson called him "the stupidest of the English poets," he remains the only one ennobled for his poetry. Tennyson was born at Somersby rectory in Lincolnshire, the son of the rector there, and was educated at Louth Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge. His earliest published verse, Poems Chiefly Lyrical (1830) and Poems (1833), were considered too sentimental by many critics. Signs of future greatness could be detected in some of the poems in these collections, however. In 1842, a new volume entitled Poems was published. This work, consisting of heavily revised poems from the two earlier collections as well as many new poems, helped to establish Tennyson's fame. His masterpiece, In Memoriam (1850), crowned his fame. The work is a tribute to his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam, whose sudden death in 1833 was a crucial event in the poet's life. The year it was published he succeeded Wordsworth as poet laureate of England. Thereafter, he became tremendously popular and held the respect and admiration of the nation, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. From that point, Tennyson also became the poet of the establishment, and for the next 40 years he was the Parnassian idol whom younger poets would vainly seek to topple. In many of his poems, including "Ulysses," "The Princess," and "Idylls of the King" (1859--1885), Tennyson trumpeted the creed of the benevolent tyrant. It was this embrace of an authoritarian universe that, as much as his versecraft, had earned him the respect of the British monarchs. His lifelong fascination with King Arthur was the inspiration for Idylls of the King, a series of 12 narrative poems published over a period of 26 years. In 1888, Tennyson chronologically arranged these 12 poems, thus depicting the full story of Arthur and his vision of the perfect state. Tennyson's last poem, "Crossing the Bar," was a 16-line lyric written while crossing from Lymington to the Isle of Wight. It was included in a collection entitled Demeter and Other Poems published in 1889. Tennyson's most characteristic form of poetry was the idyl, a poem of country life. These poems frequently take the form of dramatic reveries that tell a story. Mood is often created through the power of richly described settings. All of Tennyson's work reflects his talent for achieving fine shades of poetic expression, and his lyrics express the emotions and experiences shared by all people. His work is also notable for its heroic quality. In 1883, Tennyson was awarded the title of Baron Tennyson by Queen Victoria; his full title was Baron of Aldworth and Farringford. When he died in 1892, he was buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey. Tennyson's letters show almost nothing of the vividness and brilliance of his poetry, but Cecil Y. Lang and Edgar F. Shannon have been publishing them for their sidelights. More important for an understanding of Tennyson's poetry, the century-long ban on publishing the contents of Tennyson's notebooks, held by Trinity College in Cambridge, was lifted not long ago; an edition of In Memoriam, incorporating these variants, was brought out by Susan Shatto and Marion Shaw in 1982. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Owen Barfield World Wide Website
Series
Works by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Selections from the Poems of Tennyson: With parts of the Idylls of the King, (Lake English Classics) (1904) 31 copies
Tennyson's Idylls of the King - Selections: The Coming of Arthur, Gareth and Lynette, Lancelot and Elaine, Quest of the (1913) 30 copies
The shorter poems of Alfred Tennyson; (Macmillan's pocket American and English classics) (1903) 12 copies
The Complete Works of Tennyson 10 copies
Harold; a drama 9 copies
Poetical Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Globe Edition, Poet Laureate, 1899 (GLOBE EDITION) (1899) 6 copies
Poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Selected with a Biographical Introduction and Notes, By His Grandson. Charles Tennyson (1965) 6 copies
Lovers Tale 5 copies
Select Poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Edited with notes by William J. Rolfe Household edition (1886) 5 copies
Poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson Collector's Edition Library of Great Poetry (Leather) (1995) 5 copies
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Lady of Shallot, the Lady of the Fountain, and Other Classic Poems and Tales of… (2011) 4 copies
The miller's daughter 4 copies
Break, Break, Break {poem} 4 copies
Timbuctoo : A poem, which obtained the Chancellor's medal at the Cambridge commencement, M.DCCC.XXIX 4 copies
Oriana, and other poems 4 copies
The Poetic and Dramatic Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Cambridge edition. (Edited by W. J. Rolfe.). (2011) 4 copies
Locksley Hall sixty years after, etc 3 copies
THE WORKS OF ALFRED LORD TENNYSON with Etchings by John Jellicoe and Herbert Railton. 1893. [ILLUSTRATED] (1893) 3 copies
Fairy Lilian and other poems 3 copies
The Golden Poets 3 copies
Princess. Maud. 3 copies
The Greatest Christmas Stories & Poems in One Volume: 150 Tales, Poems & Carols (Illustrated): Silent Night, Ring Out… (2015) 3 copies
Holly from Tennyson 3 copies
To Virgil : written at the request of the Mantuans for the nineteenth centenary of Virgil's death 3 copies
Poetical Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, including In Memoriam, Maud, the Princess, Idylls of The King, Enoch Arden etc. (1900) 3 copies
Tears, Idle Tears {poem} 3 copies
The Best of Lord Alfred Tennyson (The Lady of Shalott, Ulysses, Tithonus, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Crossing the… (2012) 3 copies
The Lotos-eaters 3 copies
Cycle of songs from Maud — Lyrics — 2 copies
Moments with Tennyson 2 copies
Tennyson: Poetical Works and Plays 2 copies
Tennyson Poetry 2 copies
Alfred Lord Tennyson - Enoch Arden & Other Poems: "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in… (2017) 2 copies
Tennyson: Including Lotos Eaters, Ulysses, Ode on the Death, Maud, The Coming and the Passing of Arthur (2004) 2 copies
Alfred Lord Tennyson - In Memoriam A.H.H.: “Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams?” (2017) 2 copies
A Welcome (to the Princess of Wales) 2 copies
Poetical Works of Tennyson including In Memoriam, Maud, The Princess, Idylls of the King etc. 2 copies
The Works of Alfred Tennyson. Poet Laureate. SIX VOLUME SET IN ATTRACTIVE FULL LEATHER BINDING. 2 copies
Demeter (MacMillan, London, ’93) 2 copies
Poemas 2 copies
SOUVENIR OF BECKET: FIRST PRESENTED AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE, 6TH FEB., 1893 BY HENRY IRVING. (1904) 2 copies
Poems of Alfred Tennyson. Poet-Laureate of England. Farringford Edition Illustrated [Two Volumes in One] (1877) 2 copies
THE HOLY GRAIL (from The Idyls of the King;) and - SIR GALAHAD - Maynard's English Classic Series Number (91)… (1891) 2 copies
Idylls of the King, part 2 2 copies
Tennyson's Idylls of the King Edited with Introduction and Notes By Charles W. French, A.m. (1925) 2 copies
The Eagle 2 copies
Guinevere 2 copies
Poems of Alfred Tennyson 2 copies
Wayside Thoughts from Tennyson 2 copies
The poems of Alfred Tennyson 2 copies
The Works of Alfred Tennyson 2 copies
Tithonus 2 copies
The Falcon 2 copies
Mariana 2 copies
THE APPROACH TO TENNYSON 2 copies
Selections from Tennyson's Poems 2 copies
Becket; The cup ; The falcon 1 copy
The lady of the lake 1 copy
Poems of Alfred Tennyson 1 copy
Enoch Arden & Other Poems: "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever." (2017) 1 copy
The Poems of Lord Tennyson 1 copy
Poems by Alfred Tennyson 1 copy
Tennyson, The Harvard Manuscripts - Notebooks 1-4 (MS Eng 952) (Ms Eng 952, Tennyson Archive) (1987) 1 copy
The coming of Arthur and other idylls of the king (Riverside Literature Series Number 99) (1895) 1 copy
The Poetical Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson -The Peoples Edition - Idylls of the King in Six Volumes, Leather Bound -… (1896) 1 copy
Songs and Lyrics 1 copy
The Works of Tennyson 1 copy
The Works of Tennyson 1 copy
Poems of Lord Tennyson -.in 2 Volumes (Two Volumes of The Library of Poetical Literature 32 Volume Set) (1930) 1 copy
Interludes:lyrics: And Idyls: From the Poetic and Dramatic Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson (1889) 1 copy
The Open Air 1 copy
Tennyson's Idylls of the king: The coming of Arthur; Gareth and Lynette; Lancelot and Elaine; Guinevere; The passing of… (1911) 1 copy
The Poems of Lord Tennyson 1 copy
Poems of Tennyson; volume 1 1 copy
Selected Poems 1 copy
Tennyson’s Guinevere 1 copy
Idylls of the King: The Coming of Arthur, Gareth and Lynette, Lancelot and Elaine, Quest of the Holy Grail, Passing of… (1913) 1 copy
Tennyson's complete works 1 copy
Tennyson year book 1 copy
The day-dream 1 copy
Alfred Lord Tennyson (Bloom's Modern Critical Views) (2000-08-03) — Author — 1 copy
The poems of Lord Tennyson 1 copy
The Works of ... 1 copy
Poetry & prose 1 copy
Day by Day 1 copy
Song of the brook 1 copy
The Poetic and Dramatic Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Cambridge edition. (Edited by W. J. Rolfe.) 1 copy
The Foresters Robin Hood An Maid Marian (Classic Reprint) by Alfred Alfred (2012-07-02) (1874) 1 copy
TENNYSON, IDYLLS OF THE KING - THE COMING OF ARTHUR, LANCELOT AND ELAINE, GARETH AND LYNETTE, THE HOLY GRAIL, THE… (1903) 1 copy
Harold a drama 1 copy
Selected idylls of the King 1 copy
Tennyson : Selected Poems 1 copy
The Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate, Etc. : Complete in Two Volumes, Vol. # 1 1 copy
Lyrics and poems 1 copy
Works 1 copy
Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette Lancelot and Elaline and the Passing of Arthur: Standard English Classics (Idylls of… (1903) 1 copy
Sweet and Low 1 copy
Selected Poems from Tennyson 1 copy
Idylls of the King, part 1 1 copy
Flower in the Crannied Wall 1 copy
The Daisy 1 copy
Again the Feast 1 copy
Ask Me No More 1 copy
The Splendor Falls 1 copy
St. Agnes' Eve 1 copy
The Two Voices 1 copy
Choric Song 1 copy
The Poet 1 copy
Song 1 copy
The Passing of Arthur 1 copy
Königsidyllen 1 copy
tennyson poems 1 copy
Tennyson: Poems 1 copy
Tennyson's Shorter Poems 1 copy
Vivien and Guinevere 1 copy
To the Queen 1 copy
Pelleas and Ettarre 1 copy
The Coming of Arthur, the Passing of Arthur, a Dream of Fair Women, the Lotos-Eaters, Ulysses, Ode on the Death of the… (2010) 1 copy
Library of Classic Poets 1 copy
The Children's King Arthur 1 copy
The Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate, Etc: Complete in One Volume 1857 [Leather Bound] (2019) 1 copy
Tennyson's Idylls Of The King: The Coming Of Arthur; Gareth And Lynette; Lancelot And Elaine; Guinevere; The… (2015) 1 copy
Select poems of Alfred Tennyson, (The belles-lettres series. Section VI. Nineteenth century poets) 1 copy
The young people's Tennyson 1 copy
Demeter and other poems 1 copy
Balin and Balan 1 copy
The Works of Tennyson 1 copy
The Marriage of Geraint 1 copy
Dedication 1 copy
Dikter 1 copy
Dora 1 copy
Select Poems of Alfred Tennyson — Author — 1 copy
Everyman's Library 1 copy
The Palace of Art 1 copy
The Promise Of May 1 copy
Pearls from Tennyson 1 copy
Tennyson Poems-Illlustrated 1 copy
Stories from Tennyson 1 copy
Brilliants from Tennyson 1 copy
Poetry by Alfred Tennyson: Idylls of the King, Ulysses, the Princess, Mariana, the Lady of Shalott, the Charge of the… (2010) 1 copy
"Come to the Garden, Maud" 1 copy
Poems 1832 - 1842 1 copy
TENNYSON COMPLETE WORKS ULTIMATE COLLECTION - Alfred Lord Tennyson's complete poems, poetry, epics, plays and… (2013) 1 copy
Tiresias. 1 copy
Lyric Poems 1 copy
Tennyson for the Young 1 copy
Tennyson, the Manuscripts at the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Bodleian Library of Oxford University & the Sterling Library… (1992) 1 copy
The Death of Oenone 1 copy
The Best Poems of Tennyson 1 copy
English poetry 1 copy
The Revenge [poem] 1 copy
What Does Little Birdie Say? 1 copy
In Memoriam Vol. II 1 copy
Tennyson's poems, vol. 1 1 copy
Viviane 1 copy
Poems, vol. II 1 copy
Poems, vol. I 1 copy
50 Greatest Poems 1 copy
Poetical Works, vol II 1 copy
Godiva 1 copy
The poems and plays. . . . 1 copy
The Death Oenone 1 copy
Poems. With illustrations by Millais, Stanfield, Creswick, Mulready, Horsley, etc. New edition. 1 copy
In memoriam (testo a fronte) 1 copy
Poems By Tennyson 1 copy
Poetic Works Vol I 1 copy
The Lotos-Eaters, Ulysses, Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington, Maud, The Coming of Arthur, The Passing of… (1999) 1 copy
The Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson Complete Edition (Copiously Illustrated with full-page Wood Engravings specially… (1900) 1 copy
An Arthurian Miscellany 1 copy
Associated Works
The Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Robert Frost (2004) — Contributor — 1,058 copies
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (1995) — Contributor, some editions — 929 copies
Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural: A Treasury of Spellbinding Tales Old & New (1985) — Contributor — 526 copies
Poetry Speaks Expanded: Hear Poets Read Their Own Work from Tennyson to Plath (2007) — Contributor — 152 copies
The Children's Treasury: Best Loved Stories and Poems from Around the World (1987) — Contributor — 149 copies
The Sophisticated Cat: A Gathering of Stories, Poems, and Miscellaneous Writings About Cats (1992) — Contributor — 100 copies
Gentlemen, Scholars and Scoundrels: A Treasury of the Best of Harper's Magazine from 1850 to the Present (1959) — Contributor — 56 copies
The Dedalus Book Of English Decadence: Vile Emperors And Elegant Degenerates (Decadence from Dedalus) (2004) — Contributor — 51 copies
The Dedalus Book of British Fantasy: 19th Century (European Literary Fantasy Anthologies) (1991) — Contributor — 45 copies
Voices of the Industrial Revolution: Selected Readings from the Liberal Economists and Their Critics (1961) — Contributor — 43 copies
Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Vol. 1: The Individual and Human Values (1964) — Contributor — 40 copies
Buzz Words: Poems About Insects (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series) (2021) — Contributor — 34 copies
Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Vol. 3: Intelligent Family Living (1967) — Contributor — 33 copies
Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Vol. 4: The World Around Us (1968) — Contributor — 29 copies
The Roads from Bethlehem: Christmas Literature from Writers Ancient and Modern (1993) — Contributor — 29 copies
La poesía inglesa románticos y victorianos — Contributor — 4 copies
The Bibelot, Volume XVIII: A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, Chosen in Part from Scarce Editions and… (1912) — Contributor — 4 copies
Die englische Literatur 08 in Text und Darstellung. 19. Jahrhundert 2 (1982) — Contributor — 4 copies
Aarteiden kirja. 5 : Nooan arkki — Contributor — 2 copies
Morte de Smudgie — Contributor — 1 copy
Dramatische Werke / Frithiofs-Sage / Enoch Arden - Illustrierte Ausgabe — Contributor — 1 copy
An Evening of poetry at the Skinners' Hall : for the benefit of the Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables, 15th… — Contributor — 1 copy
George Riddle's Readings — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Tennyson - 1st Baron Tennyson, Alfred
- Other names
- Tennyson, Alfred
Lord Tennyson, Alfred - Birthdate
- 1809-08-06
- Date of death
- 1892-10-06
- Burial location
- Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, UK
- Place of death
- Haslemere, Surrey, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Essex, England, UK
Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England, UK - Education
- University of Cambridge (Trinity)
Louth Grammar School
Scaitcliffe School, Englefield Green
King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth - Occupations
- poet
- Relationships
- Tennyson, Hallam (son)
Tennyson, Charles (brother)
Tennyson, Emily Sellwood Tennys (wife)
Jesse, F. Tennyson (great-grandniece)
Tennyson, Pen (great-grandson) - Organizations
- Cambridge Apostles
- Awards and honors
- Poet Laureate of England (1850)
Hereditary Peerage (First Baron Tennyson ∙ 1884)
Fellow of the Royal Society
Members
Discussions
Victorian Poetry: In Memoriam A.H.H., Goblin Market and Other Poems, and other treasures in Club Read 2022 (November 2022)
Reviews
A Collection of Poems by Alfred Tennyson by Christopher Ricks
Rating is for the introduction by Christopher Ricks, a really nice oral history of Tennyson's life.
I guess a lot of literature experts/commentators/teachers/professors would say that there was a lot lacking in my schooling, but I don't understand what all the hoopla is about with Tennyson. I don't know how they can describe him as a genius. I did not enjoy his style or his flights of fancy about his subjects. The only piece I liked from this collection was his story about Enoch Arden. Mr. Jagger's commentary on "The Life of Tennyson" at the back of the book was interesting but also waltzed off into similar flights of fancy that I felt Tennyson does himself. Maybe that's why I became a steam engineer and not a teacher of poems.… (more)
I was surprised by some of the stories included in this poem about King Arthur and his knights. I found the language bogged me down in a few spots but it was mostly quite readable.
Of the five suggested Tennyson poems to read, I finished The Dying Swan, In Memoriam, The Lady of Shalott, and The Lotos-Eaters. I skipped the Idylls of the King because I tried reading that some time ago, and quit. It's quite long, and I am doing the bear minimum of poetry reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tennyson's poems, especially The Lady of Shalott, The Lotus-Eaters, and In Memoriam. His poetic style is rhythmic and simple and pleasant, and his themes are emotional, as he deals with loss and grief and sadness. The Lady of Shalott is Medieval and The Lotus-Eaters is Greek mythology. Initially, I sensed he may be an orthodox Christian, but a little research explained how his faith was more emotional than rational, and I can definitely see that.
I am making a mental note that if I ever read more poetry, I will read Tennyson!… (more)
I thoroughly enjoyed Tennyson's poems, especially The Lady of Shalott, The Lotus-Eaters, and In Memoriam. His poetic style is rhythmic and simple and pleasant, and his themes are emotional, as he deals with loss and grief and sadness. The Lady of Shalott is Medieval and The Lotus-Eaters is Greek mythology. Initially, I sensed he may be an orthodox Christian, but a little research explained how his faith was more emotional than rational, and I can definitely see that.
I am making a mental note that if I ever read more poetry, I will read Tennyson!… (more)
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- 89
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- 12,677
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- #1,845
- Rating
- 4.1
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- ISBNs
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