Lear
Lear names 2 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Lear EDWARD, an English author
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
EDWARD, an English author; a English author: London, England, May 12, 1812. and, May 12, 1812. studied painting, and later was and later was the Earl of Derby to Italy and Derby to Italy and where he painted many landinted raany land- Albania, Athos, the Morea, and the Morea, and of the Ægean. He exhibited He exhibited Royal Academy 1850-1873. His 850-1878. His years were spent in Italy. Lear in Italy. Lear himself better known by his illuswn by his illusbooks of travels than by his paintby his paint- Of these the most important were mportant were Sketches of Rome and its Environs " and its Environs" " Illustrated Excursions in Italy " sions in Italy" " Journal in Greece and Albania " Greece and Albania" "Journal of Landscape Landscape of a in Calabria " ( 1852); " In Cororia" (1882); "In Cor- 1869). The " Book of Nonsense " "Book of Nonsense" " More Nonsense Rhymes " fol- Tonsense Rhymes folin 1871, " Nonsense, Songs, "Nonsense, Songs, and " Botany " in 1870, " Laughin 1870, "Laugh- Lyrics " in 1876. He died in San He died in San Remo, Italy, Jan. 30, 1888. 1888.
Lear KING, a legendary King of Britain
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
KING, a legendary King of Britain, who in his old age divided his kingdom between Goneril and Regan, two of his daughters, who professed great love for him. These two daughters drove the old man mad by their unnatural conduct. Shakespeare made this story the subject of one of his plays. relation LEASE between, the contract landlord establishing and tenant. the
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The biographical facts Collier's gave in 1921 still hold: Edward Lear was born in 1812, travelled with the Earl of Derby's patronage, exhibited at the Royal Academy, and died at San Remo in 1888. What has shifted is the balance Collier's noted with faint surprise — that Lear was "better known by his illustrated books of travels than by his paintings". Today he is known first and overwhelmingly as the author of the limericks and of "The Owl and the Pussy-cat", with his topographical watercolours and his superb ornithological plates (he drew parrots for Lord Derby's menagerie) recovered only later by collectors and exhibitions. On King Lear, the entry's bare summary omits Cordelia, the loyal third daughter, and modern criticism regards the play as among Shakespeare's greatest — a status it did not always hold, since for much of the 18th and 19th centuries the stage preferred Nahum Tate's rewriting with its happy ending.
Written for this edition, 2026.