Auteur: Mark Akenside

Mark Akenside (1721-1770) was a prominent English poet and physician, known for his didactic and philosophical poetry that reflected the ideals of the Enlightenment. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne to a butcher, Akenside studied at the Edinburgh University where his interest in poetry and classics flourished. His literary career was marked by the publication of “The Pleasures of the Imagination” in 1744, a didactic poem that earned him considerable acclaim for its exploration of the aesthetic principles and the faculties of the human mind. This work, embodying the intellectual spirit of the 18th century, delved into themes such as beauty, truth, and virtue, reflecting the neoclassical ideals of harmony and order. Akenside”s poetry, characterized by a blend of Miltonic grandeur and the precision of the Augustan age, resonated with the contemporary taste for introspection and the natural rights of man. His body of work, which has been compiled in “The Poetical Works of Mark Akenside”, exhibits a rich tapestry of imagery, and an aspirational tone, leaving behind a legacy that captures the essence of a period marked by an intense quest for knowledge. While not as widely read today, Akenside”s contribution to English literature remains a testament to the intellectual ambitions and poetic achievements of his age.