Peele, George

(?1558-?1596)

   One of the most significant poets who was writing before Shakespeare. He was born probably in London and was educated at Christ's Hospital, the Bluecoat School, from 1565 to 1570, where his father was clerk. He graduated M.A. from Christ Church College, Oxford, in 1579, then became a successful playwright and actor, working for both the Lord Admiral's Company of Players and, in 1589, for the Queen's Men. His lyrics were included in the anthologies The Phenix Nest, 1593; England's Helicon and England's Parnassus (1600); and Belvidera, or the Garden of the Muses (1610). His work is in the categories of plays (written in verse), pageants, and miscellaneous verse. Most of his poetry is taken from his plays, often in the form of songs. Some of his plays: The Arraignment of Paris, ?1581. Tale of Troy, 1589. The Hunting of Cupid, 1591. The Famous Chronicle of King Edward I, surnamed Edward Longshanks, 1593. The Battle of Alcazar, 1594. Old Wives' Tale, 1595. The Love of King David and Fair Bethsabe, 1599. Some of his poems: "Anglorum Feriae," "Coridon and Melampus' Song," "Edward the First," "Polyhymnia."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The Oxford Companion to English Literature. 6th edition. Margaret Drabble, ed. Oxford University Press, 2000. The Penguin Book of Renaissance Verse 1509-1659. David Norbrook, ed. Penguin Books, 1992. The Works of George Peele: Vols. I and II. A.H. Bullen, ed. Kennikat Press, Inc., 1966. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia).