A literary giant of his time, John Dryden (1631-1700) was extremely successful as a poet, playwright, translator, and literary critic. The eldest of 14 children, he was known for his exquisite craftsmanship and easy diction that made his poetry quite accessible. Though he had supported Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan regime, he easily negotiated the restoration of the monarchy, writing well-regarded plays such as Marriage-a-la-Mode and All for Love. He was named the first ever Poet Laureate of England in 1668.