When was Edmund Spenser born and where?
Edmund Spenser was born in East Smithfield, London around the year 1552. His parentage remains obscure to modern historians though evidence suggests he was the son of John Spenser a journeyman clothmaker.
Questions about Edmund Spenser
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What estate did Edmund Spenser acquire in Ireland between 1587 and 1589?
Between 1587 and 1589 Edmund Spenser secured his main estate at Kilcolman near Doneraile in North Cork. He later purchased a second holding called Rennie situated on a rock overlooking the river Blackwater.
How many books of The Faerie Queene did Edmund Spenser complete before his death?
The poem was intended to consist of twelve books but only six were completed before Edmund Spenser died. It remains one of the longest poems in the English language.
Who did Edmund Spenser marry in 1594 and what sonnet sequence did he write for her?
In 1594 Edmund Spenser married Elizabeth Boyle who was much younger than he was. He addressed her with the sonnet sequence Amoretti which included eighty-nine sonnets commemorating his courtship.
What policy did Edmund Spenser advocate for in A View of the Present State of Irelande published in 1596?
Edmund Spenser pressed for a scorched earth policy noting its effectiveness during the Second Desmond Rebellion. He argued that Ireland would never be pacified by the English until indigenous language and customs were destroyed.