Tonson
Encyclopedia
Tonson was the name of a family of London
booksellers and publishers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Richard and Jacob Tonson
(c. 1656-1736), sons of a London barber-surgeon, started in 1676 and 1677 independently as booksellers and publishers in London. In 1679 Jacob, the better known of the two, bought and published John Dryden
's Troilus and Cressida
, and from that time was closely associated with Dryden, and published most of his works. He published the Miscellany Poems (1684-1708) under Dryden's editorship, the collection being known indifferently as Dryden's or Tonson's Miscellany, and also Dryden's translation of Virgil
(1697). Serious disagreements over the price paid, however, arose between poet and publisher, and in his Faction Displayed (1705) Dryden described Tonson as having "two left legs, and Judas
-colored hair."
Subsequently the relations between the two men improved. The brothers jointly published Dryden's Spanish Friar (1683).
Jacob Tonson also published Congreve's Double Dealer, Sir John Vanbrugh
's The Faithful Friend and The Confederacy, and the pastorals of Alexander Pope
, thus justifying Wycherley
's description of him as "gentleman usher to the Muses." He bought also the valuable rights of Paradise Lost
, half in 1683 and half in 1690. This was his first profitable venture in poetry.
In 1712 he became joint publisher with Samuel Buckley of the Spectator
, and in the following year published Addison
's Cato. He was the original secretary and a prominent member of the Kit-Cat Club
. About 1720 he gave up business and retired to Herefordshire
, where he died on 2 April 1736. His business was carried on by his nephew, Jacob Tonson, jun. (died 1735), and subsequently by his grand-nephew, also Jacob (died 1767).
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
booksellers and publishers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Richard and Jacob Tonson
Jacob Tonson
Jacob Tonson, sometimes referred to as Jacob Tonson the elder was an 18th-century English bookseller and publisher....
(c. 1656-1736), sons of a London barber-surgeon, started in 1676 and 1677 independently as booksellers and publishers in London. In 1679 Jacob, the better known of the two, bought and published John Dryden
John Dryden
John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
's Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1602. It was also described by Frederick S. Boas as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The play ends on a very bleak note with the death of the noble Trojan Hector and destruction of the love between Troilus...
, and from that time was closely associated with Dryden, and published most of his works. He published the Miscellany Poems (1684-1708) under Dryden's editorship, the collection being known indifferently as Dryden's or Tonson's Miscellany, and also Dryden's translation of Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
(1697). Serious disagreements over the price paid, however, arose between poet and publisher, and in his Faction Displayed (1705) Dryden described Tonson as having "two left legs, and Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
-colored hair."
Subsequently the relations between the two men improved. The brothers jointly published Dryden's Spanish Friar (1683).
Jacob Tonson also published Congreve's Double Dealer, Sir John Vanbrugh
John Vanbrugh
Sir John Vanbrugh – 26 March 1726) was an English architect and dramatist, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restoration comedies, The Relapse and The Provoked Wife , which have become enduring stage favourites...
's The Faithful Friend and The Confederacy, and the pastorals of Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, thus justifying Wycherley
Wycherley
People with the family name Wycherley*William Wycherley, , an English dramatist*Billy Fury , singer...
's description of him as "gentleman usher to the Muses." He bought also the valuable rights of Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
, half in 1683 and half in 1690. This was his first profitable venture in poetry.
In 1712 he became joint publisher with Samuel Buckley of the Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, and in the following year published Addison
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was a man of letters, eldest son of Lancelot Addison...
's Cato. He was the original secretary and a prominent member of the Kit-Cat Club
Kit-Cat Club
The Kit-Cat Club was an early 18th century English club in London with strong political and literary associations, committed to the furtherance of Whig objectives, meeting at the Trumpet tavern in London, and at Water Oakley in the Berkshire countryside.The first meetings were held at a tavern in...
. About 1720 he gave up business and retired to Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, where he died on 2 April 1736. His business was carried on by his nephew, Jacob Tonson, jun. (died 1735), and subsequently by his grand-nephew, also Jacob (died 1767).