The Complete Poems

Born at Winestead-in-Holderness, Yorkshire, March 3I to the Rev. Andrew Marvell and his wife, Anne. Marvells move to Hull, where Rev. Andrew Marvell becomes lecturer in Holy Trinity Church. Marvell matriculates at Trinity College, Cambridge. Greek and Latin poems on Charles I and Queen Mary published. Marvell becomes a scholar of Trinity. Father dies. Marvell leaves Cambridge. Possible clerkship in trading-house of brother-in-law, Edmund Popple. ?Travel abroad as tutor. (Dates uncertain.) Poems on Villiers (authorship questionable), Lovelace, Hastings. “An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell’s Return from Ireland.” Tutors Mary, daughter of the Lord General Fairfax, at Appleton House, Yorkshire. Milton’s letter to Bradshaw, recommending Marvell for a government position, February 2I. No appointment forthcoming, Marvell becomes tutor to Cromwell’s ward, William Dutton. Lives at Eton. “The Character of Holland.” Latin Poems on Queen Christina of Sweden, Dr. Ingelo. “The First Anniversary of the Government Under His Highness The Lord Protector.” Marvell and Dutton at Saumur, France. Marvell becomes Latin Secretary under Secretary of State Thurloe. “A Poem upon the Death of His late Highnesse the Lord Protector Marvell serves as M. P. for Hull. Intervenes in Commons to save Milton. Accompanies Earl of Carlisle as secretary on embassy to Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. England provokes war with Holland. “The Second Advice to a Painter.” “The Third Advice to a Painter.”“Clarendon’s Housewarming.” “The Last Instructions to a Painter.” Downfall of Clarendon. War ends. “On Blood’s Stealing the Crown.” The Declaration of Indulgence. The Rehearsal Transpos’d. War with France as ally against Holland. Marvell as “Mr. Thomas” active in Dutch-based anti-French, anti-Catholic fifth column. Second edition of Paradise Lost, prefaced by Marvell’s poem. Mr. Smirke: or the Divine in Mode. The Growth of Popery and Arbitrary Government. Marvell elected younger warden of Trinity House, London. Dies August I8. Miscellaneous Poems published by “Mary Marvell.”

A. Alvarez was born in London in 1929 and educated at Oundle School and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He has written many highly-praised non-fiction books, including The Savage God, Life after Marriage, The Biggest Game in Town, Offshore and Feeding the Rat. He is also the author of several books of poetry and literary criticism, and three novels, Hers, Hunt and, most recently, Days of Atonement. He is married and lives in London.