Page:Every Man in his Humour - Jonson - 1891.djvu/11



I. occupies a unique position in the social history of English literature, as the first literary monarch whose sway was universally acknowledged for a considerable portion of his life. His

Early life

strong individuality has caused his name to be familiar among those who have never read his works, so that while critics disagree as to what dramatist shall rank second to Shkspere, popular suffrages have unhesitatingly elected nson to that place. This individuality Jonson put into his works to a much greater extent than is common with dramatists, and hence it will probably not be considered inappropriate to prefix to the remarks on the play of Evry Man in his Humour a short sketch of the life of the man who produced it. Such a notice is the more requisite inasmuch as a considerable amount of detail relating to onson has been gathered together