James Thomson (Thomson James)

(1700-1748)
Born September 11, 1700 in Edneme (county Roksbro, Scotland). Deciding to become a priest of the Presbyterian church, in 1715 entered the University of Edinburgh, loss of interest in theology, in 1725 moved to London, where he became friendly with D. Gueц?, D. Arbuthnot, A. Pop, and other writers. In youthful poem Thomson Rural Life (Of a Country Life) manifested a subtle perception of the rural landscape and a deep love for nature. The unexpected success of his first great poem about the nature of Winter (Winter, . 1726) against the background of universal enthusiasm heroic distihom on urban themes led to the emergence of Summer (Summer, . 1727), . Spring (Spring, . 1728) and the cycle of the seasons (The Seasons, . 1730), . which also included the Fall (Autumn), and Hymn to the seasons (Hymn to the Seasons),
. Greatly expanded, revised edition of the series saw the light in 1744.
Seasons - the main work of Thomson and the most significant phenomenon of the poetry of nature before the era of Romanticism. It is distinguished from miltonovski free blank verse, idyllic paintings, often turgid style, flights of imagination in the polar and tropical regions, scientists insert the philosophical orientation. Peru Thomson belong poem in five parts in white verses Liberty (Liberty, . 1734-1736), . grandiloquent praise of the Goddess of Liberty, . interesting as an early attempt to image in poetry, architecture and sculpture, . and an allegorical poem of idleness Castle (The Castle of Indolence, . 1748), . written in Spenserian stanza,
. Plays Thomson - clear evidence of the decline of the requirements for drama. Play Alfred: Mask (Alfred: A Masque, 1740, together with D. Mallett) is notable in that it contains the text of the patriotic song Rule Britannia. Thomson died in Richmond (England), August 27, 1748.