Born in 1563 (?) in the village of Hartshill, near Atherstone in Warwickshire, Michael Drayton was a contemporary of Shakespeare and a near contemporary of Spenser. Most of what is known about Drayton’s life is conjectural, often derived from elliptical hints in his poetry. A major poet, Drayton published works in a variety of genres, including pastoral, epic and nymphal. Like many of his contemporaries, Drayton was also a playwright, although only one of his plays has survived. Important in his own right, as both the pre-eminent Spenserian and the foremost antiquarian poet of the early modern period, Drayton is also of great importance because of his friendships and associates. He numbered figures as diverse and prominent as Will

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First published 21 June 2005

Citation: Vine, Angus. "Michael Drayton". The Literary Encyclopedia. 21 June 2005.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1315, accessed 20 November 2009.]