Charles Gildon

Penny Pritchard (University of Hertfordshire)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

Born c. 1665
Died 1 Jan 1724
Activity c. 1692-1724

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Essayist
Playwright / Dramatist
Translator

Other

Poet
Story-writer

Resources

Gildon's Works

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Charles Gildon, writer, was forced to become a professional hack through financial necessity but in his early career enjoyed the company of popular authors including John Dryden, John Dennis, Aphra Behn, and William Wycherley. The Roman Catholic faith of his family background and childhood was first rejected by Gildon in favour of deism (for which he was castigated by Defoe) before his conversion, in 1698, to the Anglican Church. Like many of the more talented hack writers of this period, Gildon was a versatile author; his publications included prose essays, verse, plays, biographies, criticism and translations, as well as short fictional tales such as The Golden Spy (1709) and All for the Better (1720). In 1711 Gildon was appointed as editor of The British Mercury, the company journal…

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201 words

Citation: Pritchard, Penny. "Charles Gildon". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 02 October 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=11829, accessed 26 November 2024.]