John Keble (1792-1855) was an English poet and Anglican priest, best known as one of the founders, along with John Henry Newman (1801-1890) and Edward Pusey (1800-1882), of the Oxford Movement, which sought to reform the Anglican Church in accordance with Church tradition. Among his most important works in verse is The Christian Year, a book of poems, which includes “Easter Eve,” written as a series of meditations on the Sundays and feast days of the Anglican liturgical year. It is considered the most popular book of verse in the 19th century with 109 editions published by 1856, the year after Keble’s death. It was first published anonymously as a companion to the Book of Common Prayer, the main liturgical book of Anglicanism. The authorship of The Christian Year was revealed when Keble, in 1831, became Chair of Poetry at Oxford University, which he held until 1841. One of England’s great poets, William Wordsworth (1770-1850), held The Christian Year in high esteem and offered to even edit the book for Keble free of charge.
John Keble (1792-1855) was an English poet and Anglican priest, best known as one of the founders, along with John Henry Newman (1801-1890) and Edward Pusey (1800-1882), of the Oxford Movement, which sought to reform the Anglican Church in accordance with Church tradition. Among his most important works in verse is The Christian Year, a book of poems, which includes “Easter Eve,” written as a series of meditations on the Sundays and feast days of the Anglican liturgical year. It is considered the most popular book of verse in the 19th century with 109 editions published by 1856, the year after Keble’s death. It was first published anonymously as a companion to the Book of Common Prayer, the main liturgical book of Anglicanism. The authorship of The Christian Year was revealed when Keble, in 1831, became Chair of Poetry at Oxford University, which he held until 1841. One of England’s great poets, William Wordsworth (1770-1850), held The Christian Year in high esteem and offered to even edit the book for Keble free of charge.
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