Thomas Carew

Thomas Carew (1595 – 22 March 1640) was an English poet, among the 'Cavalier' group of Caroline poets. He was born in West Wickham, Kent, the son of Sir Matthew Carew, a master in chancery, and his wife Alice Ryvers Carew. Carew was educated at Merton College, Oxford, and the Middle Temple. He served in various diplomatic and courtly positions, and was a close friend of the poets Ben Jonson and John Donne.

What were his principles?

Carew was a royalist and a supporter of the Church of England. He believed in the importance of loyalty to the king and country, and he was a staunch critic of the Puritan movement. Carew was also a humanist, and he believed in the importance of education and culture.

What was he famous for?

Carew was famous for his love poems, which are characterized by their wit, grace, and sensuality. He was also a skilled songwriter, and his lyrics were set to music by some of the leading composers of his day. Carew's most famous poem is probably "The Rapture," a passionate and erotic celebration of sexual love.

What was his notable works?

Carew's notable works include:

• Poems (1640)
• Coelum Britannicum (1634)
• The Rapture
• Celia Singing
• A Song
• Ask Me No More Where Jove Bestows
• I Prithee Send Me Back My Heart
• A Prayer to Ben Jonson
• On the Death of Dr. John Donne
• To My Friend G. N., from Wrest
• To Saxham

What was his philosophy?

Carew's philosophy was based on the belief that life should be enjoyed to the fullest. He was a hedonist, and he believed in the importance of pleasure and sensual gratification. Carew also believed in the importance of beauty, and his poems are full of lush descriptions of nature and the human body.

When did he die and how is he remembered?

Carew died on March 22, 1640, at the age of 44. He is remembered as one of the most gifted and versatile poets of the Caroline era. His poems are still enjoyed by readers today for their wit, grace, and sensuality.

Anything interesting to know about the author?

Carew was a close friend of the poet John Donne, and he wrote an elegy on Donne's death which is considered to be one of the finest pieces of literary criticism of the age. Carew was also a skilled musician, and he played the lute and the viol.

Carew's poetry was influenced by the Italian poet Giambattista Marino, and he is often credited with introducing the Italian style of poetry to England. Carew's poems were popular at the court of King Charles I, and he was known as the "arbiter elegantiae" of the Caroline court.

Carew's poetry has been praised by critics for its beauty, wit, and technical skill. He is considered to be one of the most important poets of the Caroline era, and his poems continue to be enjoyed by readers today.