Oxenford, John

Oxenford, John
Oxenford, John
English dramatist, critic, translator, and song-writer (1812-1877)

Catholic Encyclopedia. . 2006.

Oxenford, John
     Catholic_Encyclopedia John Oxenford
    Dramatist, critic, translator, and song-writer, b. in London, 12 Aug., 1812; d. there 21 Feb., 1877. Mostly self-educated, for a time he was under the tuition of a brilliant and erratic scholar, S.T. Friend. His master recognizing his faculty for philosophy and his versatility wished to divert him from the dramatic career towards which he seemed inclined. In 1837 he was articled to a solicitor and is said to have spent some time in the London office of a relative and to have written on commerce and finance. He early read the literature of Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, and was always "a devourer of books". From the German he translated, amongst other things, Fischer's "Francis Bacon" (London, 1857); Goethe's "Autobiography" (London, 1888); Eckermann's "Conversations with Goethe" (London, 1904), the two last translations having almost become English classics and finding a place in Bohn's well-known series. From the French he translated Molière's "Tartuffe"; from the Italian Boyardo's "Orlando Innamorato" (in part), and from the Spanish a play of Calderon. But Oxenford's chief interest lay in the drama. Between 1835, when his first play was written, and his death he was producing dramatic work. Sixty-eight plays, at least, are attributed to him. Several have been translated into German, French, and Dutch. He also wrote librettos for operas etc. For the last twenty years of his life he was, in addition, dramatic critic to the "Times". He frequently contributed to newspapers and magazines, among others the "Athenæum". In April 1853, he wrote for the "Westminster Review" an essay on Schopenhauer's philosophy which is said to have founded the fame of that philosopher both in England and abroad. In late life Oxenford's health weakened. He died of heart failure in 1877. Eighteen months earlier he had been received into the Church.
    An appreciative sketch of his life appeared in the "Times" of 23 Feb., 1877. The writer extols his originality and scholarship: "As an appreciator of others, and as a quick discovered of anything new likely to exercise a future influence on thought he had few equals". The value of Oxenford's criticism, however, is somewhat lowered by a too great leniency, proceeding from his natural kindliness. In private life he was much beloved. His conversational powers were remarkable; and he possessed an "unsurpassed sweetness of character and self-forgetting nobleness and childlikeness".
    Athanæum, II (London, 1877), 258; Annual Register, II (London, 1877); Catholic Standard and Weekly Register (7 April, 1877).
    K.M. WARREN
    Transcribed by Choi M. Starr

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


Catholic encyclopedia.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • OXENFORD, JOHN —    English man of letters and critic; translated Goethe s Dichtung und Wahrheit, and Echermann s Conversations with Goethe ; was dramatic critic for the Times, and wrote plays, as well as an Illustrated Book of French Songs (1812 1877) …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • John Oxenford — John Oxenford, né le 12 août 1812 à Camberwell (Londres), mort le 21 février 1877 à Southwark, était un dramaturge anglais. Biographie C était un excellent linguiste qui réalisa de nombreuses traductions à partir de l allemand …   Wikipédia en Français

  • John Oxenford — (12 August 1812 – 21 February 1877), English dramatist, was born at Camberwell, London, England. Contents 1 Life …   Wikipedia

  • John Oxenford —     John Oxenford     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► John Oxenford     Dramatist, critic, translator, and song writer, b. in London, 12 Aug., 1812; d. there 21 Feb., 1877. Mostly self educated, for a time he was under the tuition of a brilliant and… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Oxenford — may refer to: A ford (crossing) for use by oxen Oxenford, Queensland Bruce Oxenford (born 1960), Australian cricket umpire Daphne Oxenford (born 1920), English actress Earle Oxenford, the present day leading candidate for alternative Shakespeare… …   Wikipedia

  • Oxenford (surname) — Oxenford is a surname, and may refer to:* Bruce Oxenford (born 1960), Australian cricket umpire * Daphne Oxenford (born 1920), English actress * John Oxenford (1812 1877), English dramatist …   Wikipedia

  • John Taylor (1480–1534) — John Taylor (c. 1480 ndash; 1534) was Master of the Rolls of the Court of Chancery from 1527 to 1534, following a successful career as a priest and civil servant. Taylor would have been notable just for the circumstances of his birth; he was the… …   Wikipedia

  • John Sims Reeves — (21 October 1821 [Date thus in J. Sims Reeves, The Life of J. Sims Reeves, Written by Himself (Simpkin, Marshall Co, London 1888, p. 15). C. E. Pearce, in Sims Reeves Fifty Years of Music in England (Stanley Paul, London 1924, pp. 17 18),… …   Wikipedia

  • List of staff for Brookside — This is a comprehensive list of individuals who worked on the Channel 4 Soap opera Brookside from its inception in 1982 until its demise in late 2003. The list is complete and the information was provided by Mersey Television who produced the… …   Wikipedia

  • Pierre-Jean de Béranger — (19 August 1780 – 16 July 1857) was a prolific French poet and chansonnier (songwriter), who enjoyed great popularity and influence in France during his lifetime, but faded into obscurity in the decades following his death. He has been described… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
https://catholicism.en-academic.com/8762/Oxenford%2C_John Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”