Froude

(James Anthony), man of letters and historian, the son of an Archdeacon of Totnes, was b. Darting ton, Devon, 23 April, 1818, and educated at Westminster and Oxford, where he took his degree in ’40, was elected fellow of Exeter College and received deacon’s orders. At first, under the influence of the Romanising movement, he became a rationalist and abandoned his fellowship and clerical life. His Nemesis of Faith , ’48, showed the nature of his objections. Mr. Froude devoted his abilities to a literary career, and fell under the influence of Carlyle. For many years he edited Fraser’s Magazine , in which he wrote largely. His e ays are collected under the title of Short Studies on Great Subjects , ’71–83. His largest work is the History of England , from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, ’56–76. His Life of Carlyle , ’82, and publication of Carlyle’s Rem in is censes provoked much controversy. His magical translation of Lucian’s most characteristic Dialogue of the Gods is done with too much verve to allow of the supposition that the translator is not in sympathy with his author.