Edwin Atherstone (1788–1872) was a poet and novelist. His works, which were planned on an imposing scale, attracted some temporary attention and applause, but are now forgotten. His chief poem, '' The Fall of Nineveh'', consisting of thirty books, appeared at intervals from 1828 to 1868. It narrates about war waged by the coalition of many nations led by Median prince Arbaces and Babylonian priest Belesis against the tyrannical king of Assyria Sardanapalus, who, after being defeated in many battles, burns his own palace and dies within. He wrote also ''The Last Days of Herculaneum; and, Abradates and Panthea: Poems'' (1821), ''A Midsummer Day's Dream: a Poem'' (1824) and ''Israel in Egypt'' (1861). He was a close friend and associate of the painter

John Martin John Martin may refer to: Business *John Martin (businessman) (1820–1905), American lumberman and flour miller *John Charles Martin (fl. 1913–1931), American newspaper publisher *John Martin (publisher) (born 1930), American founder of Black ...

, whose well-known painting "The Fall of Nineveh" was produced in conjunction with Atherstone's poem. He also produced two novels, ''The Sea Kings in England'' and ''The Handwriting on the Wall''. The first one tells about the Viking invasion of England at the time of king

Alfred the Great Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who bot ...

. Atherstone's plays were published posthumously by his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Atherstone in 1888.Atherstone, Edwin.

References

* 1788 births 1872 deaths English male poets 19th-century English novelists English male novelists 19th-century English male writers {{england-writer-stub