Edward Taylor

Edward Taylor (1642?-1729), American poet, considered by most critics to be the finest verse writer of the colonial period. Born near Coventry, England, Taylor immigrated to America in 1668, after refusing to take the oath required by the Act of Uniformity of 1662 (see Church of England). He attended Harvard College and, after his graduation in 1671, moved to Westfield, Massachusetts. He lived in Westfield, serving as the town's minister, until his death.

Taylor wrote poetry his entire life, but he left strict instructions for his heirs not to publish his verse. In 1883, however, one of his descendants gave Taylor's writings to Yale University, and in 1939The Poetical Works of Edward Taylor, edited by the scholar Thomas H. Johnson, appeared. Taylor's most important works are considered to be “Preparatory Meditations” and “God's Determinations Touching His Elect.” The former is a collection of more than 200 poems discussing several religious themes. It puts forth Taylor's concept of “blessed theantropy,” the perfect union of the human and the divine in Christ. “God's Determinations” is a dramatic poem that celebrates God's power in the triumph of good over evil in the human soul. Most of Taylor's poetry is in the metaphysical tradition (see Metaphysical Poets), and he often used extravagant rhetorical devices. Taylor's poetry was one of the major literary discoveries of the 20th century, and since the publication of his work Taylor's reputation has steadily increased.