Michael Drayton

Born at Hertshill, Athersons, Warwickshire in 1563. He was one of the most ambitious and versatile poets of the English Renaissance. A contemporary of Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and Edmund Spenser, Drayton wrote sonnets, historical poems, pastorals, and lyrical verse, but he is best remembered for his monumental topographical epic Poly-Olbion. His work reflects a deep patriotism and an intense fascination with England’s history, landscape, and identity at a time when national consciousness was growing strongly.

Poly-Olbion was started in 1598, and in 1612 the first volume appeared illustrated by 18 maps. It was 9 years later in 1622 that the second volume was published with a further 12 maps. The work was not hand coloured at the time so coloured maps you find will have been worked on in more recent times. It is Drayton’s most extraordinary achievement. The title means “many-blessed,” referring to the richness and diversity of Britain. Written in long, rolling alexandrine lines, the poem personifies the rivers, hills, forests, and regions of England and Wales, giving them voices that recount local legends, historical events, and cultural traditions. Each section is accompanied by detailed maps by the engraver William Hole, making the work a unique blend of poetry, geography, and history.

Though Poly-Olbion can seem demanding to modern readers because of its length and style, it stands as a remarkable celebration of the land itself. Drayton transforms geography into poetry, presenting Britain not just as a place, but as a living, speaking presence shaped by myth, memory, and human experience.

Michael Drayton died in 1631 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.