Edwin Atherstone (1788–1872) was a

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems ( oral or wri ...

and

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others asp ...

. 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 ''The Fall of Nineveh'' is a long poem in blank verse by Edwin Atherstone. It consists of thirty books preceded by a Prelude. The poem was written over many years and published 1828–1868. It tells of the battles and events during the war betwee ...

'', 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 Arbaces was the name of more than one person of classical antiquity: Founder of Median empire According to Ctesias, Arbaces was one of the generals of Sardanapalus, king of Assyria and founder of the Median empire about 830 BC. Opinion on him is ...

and Babylonian priest Belesis against the tyrannical king of Assyria

Sardanapalus Sardanapalus (; sometimes spelled Sardanapallus) was, according to the Greek writer Ctesias, the last king of Assyria, although in fact Ashur-uballit II (612–605 BC) holds that distinction. Ctesias' book ''Persica'' is lost, but we know of its ...

, 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, 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. 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