Thomas Hood: Life, Works, and Style
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Thomas Hood’s Life A British Romantic poet, journalist, and humorist, Thomas Hood was born on May 23, 1799, in London, the United Kingdom. He was the son of Elizabeth Sands and Thomas Hood Sr., whose family members were Scottish farmers from the village of Errol, near Dundee. Thomas Hood Sr. was a successful bookseller, credited with introducing editions of classics in the United States, making him a prominent figure in the book business. After the death of his father in 1811, Thomas Hood and his mother Elizabeth moved to Islington. There, a schoolteacher recognized his writing talent and encouraged him to write. This encouragement prompted him to start revising the 1788 novel "Paul and Virginia" for which he received a small fee. The precocious child soon realized his own talent and left his schoolteacher to join a Counting House, which belonged to his friend's parents. However, this occupation did not suit him, and he turned to engraving, which he also abandoned. He then …