aBurntShip

                                                           Introduction.  It is interesting to compare the similarities between two poets dealing with the 1667 Dutch raid on the Medway centuries apart. The three Anglo-Dutch wars from 1653 -1673 saw fourteen battles or major raids in Western European waters. Clashes between the English and the Dutch in West Africa and the American colonies also occurred. The Battle of Lowestoft 3rd June 1665, is generally regarded as an English victory, with the loss of at least 30 Dutch ships and James Duke of York excelling himself as an admiral . The Four Day battle from 1st June 1666- 4th June 1666, was one of the longest ever sea battles. The English and the Dutch fleets managed to exhaust each other, though English losses were far higher.                                                                                    Pieter

              John Dryden's War Poetry- 'Annus Mirabilis' part one                                              Courtesy of  Wikimedia Commons                                              Portrait of John Dryden painted by James Maubert 1695                John Dryden (1631- 1700) was a renowned  poet, satirist, dramatist, translator ,classical scholar,  and his contribution to war poetry needs to be highlighted.  Poet Laureate  from 1668-1688, Dryden was dismissed from the supposedly life time post for refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to William and Mary.  Studying his influence  is a mammoth task indeed due to sheer volume of work produced.  The great Dryden scholar James Anderson Winn maintains that Dryden 'painted history' and cites his epic poem 'Annus Mirabilis' to this effect about the events of 1665-1666.. Indeed, if one reads 'Annus Mirabilis' as a historical record, then problems emerge. It's almost like trying t

                          A consequence of studying 20th century war poetry was that it  stimulated my new interest in seventeenth century poetry. And from that 'A Burnt Ship' blog was born.  An earlier version of this first article was published on the Great War at Sea Poetry blog. If anyone who is looking for World War 2 poetry , feel free to visit the   World War 2 Poetry  blog. If anyone is interested in 20th century War at Sea poetry, feel free to visit the  Great War at Sea Poetry blog                                                       John Donne                                            Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom 'Battle between England and Spain                                                        1601- [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons                                                        The Burnt Ship  Fighting at sea can be particularly ferocious, simply because there is so little chance to retreat let alone desert