Ben Jonson: A Literary Life

Explore the Life of a Legend…

Ben Jonson was an English poet and playwright, now renowned for his work, although little is really known about Jonson and his early family life.

Though records from the Elizabethan period were sparse and riddled with gaps, in this comprehensive biography, W. David Kay details the rise of this legendary figure.

After Jonson left Westminster School, Jonson went to work with his step-father, following in his line of work, bricklaying, though his love of literature was apparent even at this age and it wasn’t long before he made an appearance in the world of theatre.

Some of Jonson’s play were shown in theatres, with mixed reviews and acceptance and many of his contemporaries believed that his romance was thought to have been lesser in intensity than those written by Shakespeare.

Furthermore, Jonson’s life was not free of further trouble…

Just days following the opening of Every Man in His Humour , Jonson got into a feud with an old colleague and killed him.

Although found guilty of murder, Jonson narrowly escaped being hanged, however with his goods confiscated as punishment, his monetary troubles soon escalated.

But Jonson found a way to overcome this: unusually for a man of his stature, Jonson had a wide array of high-ranking friends.

Utilising his charming personality, Jonson was able to impress a broader audience through his poems and other works, making an impact so great that we still revere him today.

In Ben Jonson: A Literary Life W. David Kay provides an account that provides an engaging and in-depth basis for the events and context which contributed to the style and content of Jonson’s works.

Praise for Ben Jonson: A Literary Life

‘This would be the first book to recommend to an intelligent student interested in Jonson’s life.’ – Robert C. Evans

‘This is a wise and mature book–one that tries to do Jonson the justice of taking him whole.’ – Robert C. Evans