Andrew Marvell: The Chameleon

by Nigel Smith

The seventeenth-century poet Andrew Marvell (1621–1678) is one of the most intriguing figures in English literature. A noted civil servant under Cromwell’s Protectorate, he has been variously identified as a patriot, spy, conspirator, concealed homosexual, father to the liberal tradition, and incendiary satirical pamphleteer and freethinker. But while Marvell’s poetry and prose has attracted a wide modern following, his prose is known only to specialists, and much of his personal life remains shrouded in mystery. Nigel Smith’s pivotal biography provides an unparalleled look into Marvell’s life, from his early employment as a tutor and gentleman’s companion to his suspicious death, reputedly a politically fueled poisoning. Drawing on exhaustive archival research, the voluminous corpus of Marvell’s previously little known writing, and recent scholarship across several disciplines, Smith’s portrait becomes the definitive account of this elusive life.

Genres: Biography, History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of facts piled ponderously on top of each other that don't often cohere into a narrative.

[Jane Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, I couldn't finish this. I wanted a good biography of Marvell, but Smith is more concerned with the poetry. Perhaps that's because there is little known about Marvell's earlier life and career; but even with a degree in Eng Lit I couldn't get interested. I also have a research interest in Marvell's childhood, and it was disconcerting to find that Smith is muddled about the background to that.
This may be the "definitive" biography, but I look forward to a more accessible one.