Edward Ward

Alison O'Byrne (University of York)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

Born 1667
Died 1731
Activity 1691-1731

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Journalist
Political writer
Satirist
Story-writer

Resources

Ward's Works

Save to Bookshelf

Edward “Ned” Ward (1667-1731) embodies what might be seen to typify a Grub Street hack. From his first publication,

The Poet’s Ramble after Riches

(1691) through a range of satires, character studies, and contributions to the political and religious debates of his time, Ward wrote out of necessity, living by his pen. The lapse of the Licensing Act in 1695 led to an explosion of print, which in turn gave rise to the first generation of men who were able to secure a living from writing without depending on an aristocratic patron. Ward wrote extensively, and with an eye on sales, aiming his work at the widest possible audience, the increasingly literate middling orders who wanted to read about their world. The sheer amount of his output is impressive: Ward published over seventy titles…

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1296 words

Citation: O'Byrne, Alison. "Edward Ward". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 August 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4597, accessed 21 November 2024.]