He is
librarian
of Brookline, Mass.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v29 - BIographical Dictionary
After the publication of his first book,
(John Bull and his Island (1883), he abandoned
teaching and devoted himself to literature. He
has made several lecturing-tours of the United
States. His works include : John Bull and his
Daughters) (1884); Jonathan and his Conti-
nent) (1888, with Jack Allyn); (A Frenchman
in America) (1891); John Bull & Co. (1894).
Blum, Ernest (blüm). A French dramatist;
born in Paris, Aug. 15, 1836. Either alone or
in collaboration with other dramatists he is
author of many highly successful plays. The
drama of (Rose Michel (1877), of his own
composition, insured his place among the
most successful French dramatists of the time.
Among his later compositions are : (Adam and
Eve) (1886); (The Nervous Women(1888);
(End of the Century) (1890).
Blumenreich, Franziska (blo'men-rich). A
German novelist; born in Bohemia, April 2,
1849. Among her very numerous novels these
are the more notable : (At the Abyss of Mar-
riage) (1888); (Freighted with Bliss) (1890);
(Storms in Port) (1892). She is a zealous
advocate of woman's rights.
Blumenthal, Oskar (blö'men-täl). A Ger-
man dramatist and critic; born in Berlin,
March 13, 1852. Sprightliness of dialogue is
the most distinguishing character of his plays;
the most successful of them are : (The Big
Bell); (A Drop of Poison); (The Black Veil. )
He has published several volumes of critical
and miscellaneous essays.
Blunt, Wilfrid Scawen. An Irish poet;
born at Crabbet Park, Sussex, in 1840. He
was attaché of legation at The Hague, Athens,
Madrid, Buenos Ayres, and elsewhere. He
supported Arabi Pasha in a revolt in 1881, in
Egypt; and was imprisoned in 1888 for his
insurrectionary actions in Ireland. He is author
of : “Sonnets and Songs by Proteus) (London,
1875); (The Love Sonnets of Proteus) (1881;
new ed. 1885); (The Future of Islam? (1882);
(The Wind and the Whirlwind, political
poems (1884); "Ideas about India) (1885); and
Esther: a Young Man's Tragedy) (1895).
Blüthgen, August Edward Viktor (blūt'-
gen). A German novelist; born at Zörbig,
near Halle, Jan. 4. 1844. He has won high
distinction as a writer for the young. Among
his stories for boys and girls are : (The
Rogues' Looking-Glass) (1876); (The Battle
of Frogs and Mice) (1878); and with these
is to be classed the letterpress (verses) of
0. Pletsch's Picture Books. Of novels and
romances he is author of a great many: 1. g. ,
(The Peace-Breaker) (1883); (The Step-Sister)
(1887); (Madame the Countess) (1892).
Blyden, Edward Wilmot. A negro author;
born at St. Thomas, W. I. , Aug. 3, 1832. After
vainly seeking, in 1845, admission to some col-
lege in the United States, he went to Liberia,
and graduated at the Alexander High School,
Boardman, George Dana. A distinguished
American clergyman and author; born at
Tavoy, British Burma, Aug. 18, 1828. He was
the son of the eminent American Baptist mis-
sionary of the same name. He was educated
in the United States, graduating at Brown
University in 1852 and at Newton Theological
Institution in 1855. He became pastor at Barn-
well, S. C. ; afterwards at Rochester, N. Y. , till
1864, when he became pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church in Philadelphia. Besides sermons
and essays, his chief works are: (Studies
in the Creative Week) (1878); (Studies in the
Model Prayer) (1879); Epiphanies of the
Risen Lord) (1879); (Studies in the Mountain
Instruction (1880).
Boccaccio, Giovanni (bok-kä'cho). A cele.
brated Italian novelist, poet, and humanist;
born at Paris, 1313; died Dec. 21, 1375. His
first romance was "Filocopo,' dedicated to his
mistress Fiammetta. The romantic epic the
(Theseid) followed; it is the first Italian work
of the kind. Both for itself and for its associa-
tions, the (Theseid is of interest to students
of English literature, having been a source
of inspiration to Chaucer in his (Knightes
Tale. (Fiammetta in Love) is a work of
the finest psychological analysis, clothed in
every grace of poesy. Love's Labyrinth) is
a vigorous satire on woman. But Boccaccio's
enduring fame rests on the Decameron); a
collection of stories original and borrowed,
set in a narrative framework, all of the high-
est charm. *
Bodenstedt, Friedrich Martin von (bö'den-
stet). [“Mirza Schaffy. ”] A noted German
poet and journalist; born 1819; died 1892.
His works include: Poetical Ukraine); “The
People of the Caucasus and their Struggle for
Freedom against the Russians); (Thousand
and One Days in the East); and many others
dealing with Oriental themes. *
Bodmer, Johann Jakob (bod'mer). A Swiss
scholar and literary critic; born near Zürich,
July 19, 1698; died Jan. 2, 1783. He was the
first to make English literature known in Ger-
many; and wrote dramas, and the epics (The
Deluge) (1751) and Noah) (1752). He pub-
lished two volumes of (Critical Letters,' and
prepared editions of ancient German poetry:
(Specimens of Thirteenth-Century Suabian
Poetry); (Fables from the Time of the Minne-
singers) ; (Kriemhilde's Revenge); etc. *
Bödtcher, Ludwig (bėt'che). A Danish lyr.
ist (1793-1874); born at Copenhagen. He spent
## p. 65 (#81) ##############################################
BOËTIUS-BOISGOBEY
65
(
many years in Italy, and nature and man in
Italy equally with nature and man in Den-
mark are the themes of his finest poems,
notably Bacchus,' and the collection called
(Poems Old and New)
Boëtius or Boëthius, Anicius Manlius Tor-
quatus Severinus (bo-e'thi-us). A Roman
didactic poet and statesman; born between
470 and 475; died about 525. While in prison,
rightly anticipating execution, he composed his
celebrated (Consolation of Philosophy. It pur-
ports to be a dialogue between Philosophy and
her votary, and is in both prose and verse. *
Bogaers, Adriaan (bo'gärs). A Dutch poet
(1795-1870); born at The Hague. He holds
eminent place among the many disciples of
Tollens, and surpasses his master in correct-
ness of taste. He long withheld his composi-
tions from publication, and not till 1832 did
he become known to his countrymen; he then
published his first lyric poem, "Volharding,' -
an appeal to his countrymen to stand fast in the
struggle with Belgium,- together with other
patriotic pieces. His first poem of any con-
siderable compass, the epic (Jochebed, and
his masterpiece, “The Voyage of Heemskerk
to Gibraltar, were first formally published in
1860-61, though they had had for many years
a private circulation among friends. He after-
ward, published three volumes : Ballads and
Romances); (Flowers of Poesy from Abroad);
and Poems.
Bogart, William Henry (bo'gärt). An
American biographer; born at Albany, N. Y. ,
1810; died 1888. He wrote: Life of Daniel
Boone) (7th thousand, 1856); (Who Goes
There? ) etc.
Bogdanovich, Ippolit Feodorovich (bog-dä-
nõ'vich). A Russian poet (1744-1803); born
in Little Russia. His early poems, written
when he was a boy, won for him admission to
the university. His most celebrated work is
a charming free elaboration of Lafontaine's
(Loves of Psyche and Cupid. He also wrote
dramas and comedies, and published a collec-
tion of (Proverbs. '
Bogdanovich, Modést Ivanovich. A Rus-
sian military historian and commander; born
1805; died in Oranienbaum, Aug. 6, 1882. He
was a very able soldier, and even abler with
the pen; his Bonaparte's Campaign in Italy,
1796 (2d ed. 1860) and History of the Art
of War,' and particularly his (History of the
Campaign of 1812) (2d ed. 1861), having at-
tracted wide notice.
Bögh, Erik (bėg). A Danish poet and dram-
atist; born in Copenhagen, Jan. 17, 1822. He
is best known for his witty stanzas and epi-
grams in periodicals, for (This and That, a
collection of humorous essays, and for a hun-
dred or so of plays and farces. A novel,
Jonas Tvärmose's Vexations, has merit.
Bogović, Mirko (bo'gā-vich). A Croatian
poet (1816-93) ; born at Agram. His first liter-
ary work was in translating Serb poetry into
German. His original lyric poems appeared
under the title “Violets) (1844); being fol-
lowed by two successful volumes of his col-
lected verse.
He wrote also dramas, among
them the tragedy (Stephen, Last King of Bos-
nia); and several novels.
Boguslavski, Adalbert (bő-gö-slav'ske). A
Polish dramatist (1759-1829); born near Posen.
He composed the first opera ever written in
the Polish language. For several years he was
director of theatres in various towns, and in
1790 became director of the National Theatre
at Warsaw. As an actor he excelled alike in
tragedy and in comedy, and he formed many
pupils who gained high distinction on the
stage. The best of his dramatic compositions
is the popular melodrama (The Wonder, or
the Men of Krakau and the Mountaineers. )
Böhlau, Helene (bė'lou). A German novel-
ist; born at Weim, Nov. 22, 1859. She shows
now and then a leaning toward the romantic
school, but on the whole her high power of
description is realistic and her writings are
imbued with passion. Among her novels are :
(Under Death's Ban) (1882); (Guilty of a Pure
Heart) (1888); (In Freshwater) (1891).
Böhme, Jakob (bė'mė). A German mystic
theologian; born in Altseidenburg, in the
Oberlausitz, 1575; died in Görlitz, Nov. 17,
1624. He was a peasant's son and learned the
shoemaker's trade; but his lack of early advan-
tages was recompensed by the heavenly illu-
minations with which he was favored, and
which are set forth in about twenty books,-
among them (Aurora, or the Sunrise) (1612).
He was very widely read at one time, and still
has devoted adherents. But he himself ac-
knowledges the obscurity of his writings.
Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas (bwä-lö'dā.
prā-o'). A noted French poet and critic; born
in Paris, Nov. I, 1636; died March 13, 1711.
His first effort was (The Farewell of a Poet
to the City of Paris) (1660), and six years
later published collectedly seven satires (after-
ward increased to twelve), in which he casti-
gates even the magnates of the literary world.
Following the vein worked by Horace, he
published (The Art of Poetry (1674). In
reply to the critics Boileau composed (The
Reading-Desk, a comic epic which is esteemed
a masterpiece. *
Boisard, François Marie (bwä-zär). A
French fabulist (1744-1833). Of all the French
fabulists he is least an imitator of the great
Lafontaine. His Fables) were at first pub-
lished in the newspaper Mercure de France,
and afterwards gathered in two collections.
His (Ode on the Deluge) was crowned by the
Rouen Academy, 1790.
Boisgobey, Fortuné-Abraham du (bwä-go-
bā'). A French novelist; born in Granville,
Sept. II, 1821; died in February 1891. In
1844-48 he was paymaster in the army at
Algiers, and began to write in 1868, somewhat
on the lines of Emile Gaboriau. His novels
5
## p. 66 (#82) ##############################################
66
BOISSIER - BOLTON
were popular, and include: (The Scoundrels)
(Paris, 1873); (Chevalier Casse-Con (1873);
(The Mysteries of Modern Paris) (1876); (The
Demi-Monde under the Terror) (1877); (The
Old Age of M. Lecoq' (1878); (The Cat's
Eye) (1888); and (The Cold Hland) (1879).
Boissier, Gaston (bwä-syā'). A French bio-
graphical and critical writer; born at Nîmes,
1823. He is a member of the Academy, and has.
won celebrity with (Cicero and his Friends);
"Life of Madame de Sévigné); (Archeological
Walks in Rome and Naples); and others. He
is a frequent contributor to French periodical
literature. *
Boito, Arrigo (bő-e'to). An Italian poet
and musician; born at Padua, 1842. His father
was an Italian painter and his mother was a
Polish lady, and the son inherits the gifts of
both nations. His librettos written for Verdi,
Bottesini, and others, and his own operas,
(Mefistofele) and Nerone,' are of a high order
of poetry. In 1877 he published a separate
volume of verse.
Bojardo, Matteo Maria (bő-yär'dő). A cele-
brated Italian poet; born at Scandiano, about
1434; died at Reggio, Dec. 21, 1494. He was
of noble origin in Lombardy, and all his life
held high and responsible posts in the civil
government at Modena and at Reggio. His
great fame rests on the romantic epic (Orlando
in Love, which tells of the loves of Char-
lemagne's knight Roland and the fair Angelica
and the adventures connected therewith. The
epic was planned to be completed in three
books, but at the author's death only two books,
of 29 and 31 cantos respectively, were finished;
the composition of the third book had reached
only the ninth canto. Niccolò degli Agostini
wrote a continuation in 33 cantos. In point
of imagination and invention Bojardo ranks
among the greatest poets. But his versification
is far from perfect, and his language lacks
grace and purity; because of these and other
blemishes the (Orlando) was recast and pol-
ished by Francesco Berni, and with eminent
German novelist; born at Niedergailbach, Aug.
9, 1828. A Catholic theologian, and high in
favor at the papal court, his fictions, all brilliant
in style and conception, attack the Protestant
standpoint from all directions;-'A Wedding
Trip'; Queen Bertha); Barbarossa); (The
Free-Thinkers); and Historical Tales of Fred-
erick II, and his Times,' being noteworthy
examples.
Boldrewood, Rolf, pseudonym of Thomas
Alexander Browne. An Australian author:
born in England in 1827. He is a son of
Capt. Sylvester J. Browne, a founder of Vel.
bourne, Australia. He was educated in Sidney
College, and has written : (Ups and Downs :
a Story of Australian Life) (London, 1879:)
(Robbery under Arms: Life and Adventures in
the Bush) (1888); (A Squatter's Dream Story)
(1890); and “A Modern Buccaneer) (1894).
Bolingbroke, Henry St. John, Viscount. A
celebrated English statesman, orator, and au-
thor ; born at Battersea, Oct. I, 1678; died there,
Dec. 12, 1751. He entered Parliament in 1701;
became Secretary of War 1704-8, and Sec-
retary of State in 1710. In 1712 he entered the
House of Lords, and in 1713 negotiated the
Peace of Utrecht. On the accession of George
I. he fled to the Continent, and in 1715 was
attainted of treason; but in 1723 he was per
mitted to return. His chief works are: "A
Dissertation on Parties); "Letters on the Study
of History); Letters on the Spirit of Patriot-
ism); and (The Idea of a Patriot King. He
was a Deist, but taught that a statesman
should profess the doctrines of the Church of
England. He was an effective orator; but the
style of his philosophical and political works,
though polished, is heavy and declamatory.
Bolintineanu, Dimitrie (bo-lēn-tê-na-än'). A
Roumanian poet; born at Bolintina in Wallachia,
1826; died Sept. 1, 1872. He is widely known
for the beauty of the stanzas comprising his
earliest collected verse, "Songs and Plaints. "
He wrote also a successful novel, Helena,
and an epic poem, "The Trajanid, besides
Roumanian ballads and the philosophical epic
of (Manoil.
Bolles, Frank (bölz. ) An American essayist
and poet; born in Massachusetts, 1856; died
1894. He wrote: (From Blomidon to Smoky;)
(Land of the Lingering Snow,' etc. ; in verse,
(Chocorua's Tenants.
Bolton, Charles Knowles (böl'ton). An
American poet and miscellaneous writer, son
of Mrs. Sarah Knowles Bolton; born in Ohio,
1867.
He is librarian of Brookline, Mass. He
has written in prose : (Gossiping Guide to
Harvard, (Saskia, the Wife of Rembrandt,
etc. ; in verse : (The Wooing of Martha Pit-
kin' Love Story of L'rsula Wolcott, etc.
Bolton, Henry Carrington. An American
scientific writer; born in New York, 1843. He
was professor of chemistry and natural science
at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. Besides
works on chemistry he has written: "The
3
success.
Bok, Edward William. An American editor
and essayist; born in Holland, 1863. He has edited
the Ladies' Home Journal, and written (The
Young Man in Business) and (Successward. "
Boker, George Henry. An American poet
and dramatist; born in Philadelphia, Pa. , Oct.
6, 1823; died there, Jan. 2, 1890. He graduated
from Princeton in 1842; studied law; and was
United States minister to Turkey in 1871-75,
and to Russia in 1875–79. His plays include:
(Calaynos) (1848); Anne Boleyn) (1850);
(Francesca di Rimini); (The Betrothed”; and
(All the World's a Mask. Collected plays and
poems (Boston, 1856). Also (Poems of the
War' (1864); (Königsmark and other Poems)
(1869); (The Book of the Dead) (1882); and
(Sonnets) (1886). *
Bolanden, Konrad von (bo'län-den), pseudo-
nym of Joseph Eduard Konrad Bischoff. A
## p. 67 (#83) ##############################################
BOLTON – BORNEIL
67
Counting-Out Rhymes of Children, a Study in
Folk-Lore) (1888): Literature of Manganese );
and Students' Guide in Quantitative Analysis. '
Bolton, Sarah Knowles. An American au-
thor; born in Farmington, Conn. , Sept. 15, 1841.
She married Charles E. Bolton, a merchant
and philanthropist, and resides in Cleveland,
0. She is the author of a number of books, in
cluding : Girls who Became Famous) (1886);
(Famous American Authors) 1887); (Famous
American Statesmen (1888); (Famous Types of
Womanhood) (1892); etc.
Bolton, Sarah Tittle. An American poet;
born in Newport, Ky. , Dec. 18, 1815; died in
Indianapolis, Ind. , Aug. 4, 1893. She is known
for her patriotic and war poems, including:
Paddle Your Own Canoe); Left on the Bat-
tlefield); etc. (Poems) (New York, 1865; In-
dianapolis, 1886).
Bonacci-Brunamonti, Maria Alinda (bo-
nä'che-brö-nä-mon'tē). An Italian poet; born
in Perugia, 1842. She was only fourteen years
old when her first Collection of Poems) ap-
peared and attracted much attention. Her
National Songs) (1859-78) were inspired by
Italy's struggle for freedom.
Bonar, Horatius (bon'är). A celebrated
Scotch hymnist; born in Edinburgh, Dec. 19,
1808; died July 31, 1889. He wrote Hymns
of Faith and Hope,' many of which have been
taken into the hymnals of most of the Prot-
estant churches. He also wrote more than 20
volumes on theological and religious subjects.
Bonaventura, Saint (bā''nä-ven-to'rä). An
Italian theologian and scholar; born at Ba-
gnarea, 1221; died 1274. His real name was
Giovanni di Fidenza. His writings include:
"Life of Saint Francis); 'Progress of the Mind
towards God”; “Breviloquium'; and many ser-
mons and treatises on theological subjects. *
Bonavino, Cristoforo. See Franchi.
Bondi, Clemente (bon'dē). An Italian poet;
born near Parma, June 27, 1742; died at Vienna,
June 20, 1821. At the suppression of the Com-
pany of Jesus, he, though a Jesuit, lauded that
act in a poem and had to flee his country.
While yet a member of the Jesuit order he
wrote a spirited humorous poem, "Rural Days)
(1773), in three cantos, descriptive of the pranks
and sports of a band of students.
Boner, John Henry. An American poet and
literary worker; born at Salem, N. C. , Jan. 31,
1845. A contributor to the magazines, he was
on the editorial staff of the Century Diction-
ary) and the (Standard Dictionary,' and was
once literary editor of the New York World.
He has written "Whispering Pines) (1883), a
volume of verse.
Bonghi, Ruggero (bon'ge). An Italian
scholar and controversial writer; born in Na-
ples, March 21, 1826. The commencement of
his brilliant career indicated scholarly activi-
ties only, for he made fine studies and versions
of Aristotle and Plato; but latterly he has
taken up such subjects as "The Financial His-
tory of Italy, 1864-88) (1868); “The Life and
Times of Valentino Pasini) (1867); and (The
Life of Jesus) (1890); the popularity and value
of these and other works giving him great
prominence.
Boniface. See Saintine.
Bonnechose, Émile Boisnormand de (bôn-
shoz'). A French poet and historian (1801-75);
born at Leyerdorp in Holland. His one nota-
ble poetical composition is (The Death of
Bailly) (1833). Besides a (History of France)
he is author of: (Reformers before the 16th-
Century Reformation) (1844); (The Four Con-
quests of England) (2 vols. , 1851); (History of
England (4 vols. , 1859).
Bonnières, Robert de (bôn-vār'). A French
journalist and novelist; born at Paris, April
7, 1850. He commenced his literary career as
contributor to Paris journals of spirited but
waspish biographs of contemporary men: these
were collected and published in three succes-
sive volumes of Memoirs of To-day. His
novels are full of transparent allusions to noted
persons, and have had a very great vogue. In
one of them, “The Monarch, he portrays high
Jewish society in Paris.
Booth, Mary Louise. An American writer;
born in Yaphank, L. I. , April 19, 1831 ; died in
New York city, March 5, 1889. She was editor
of Harper's Bazar from 1867 until her death ;
translated many novels and histories, including
Gasparin's (Uprising of a Great People, and
H. Martin's (History of France) (6 vols. , 1880).
Borel, Pétrus (bo-rel'). [Properly Pierre
Borel d'Hauterive. ] A French journalist and
author; born in Lyons, June 28, 1809; died in
Algeria, July 14, 1859. His character was ec-
centric: he surnamed himself the «Were-
wolf, and his writings both prose and verse
were romantic and bizarre. They include:
(Rhapsodies,' poems (Paris, 1831); "Champa-
vert, stories (1833); and (Madam Potiphar, a
novel (2 vols. , 1839).
Börne, Ludwig (bėr'ne). An eminent Ger-
man political writer; born at Frankfort-on-the
Main, of Jewish parents, May 6, 1786; died at
Paris, Feb. 12, 1837. He founded and for three
years conducted Die Wage, a journal devoted
to civics, science, and art. Of his numerous
satirical sketches, all full of humor and wit,
these are perhaps the most brilliant: (Mono-
graph on the German Postal Snail); (The Art
of Becoming an Original Author in Three
Days); Memorial Address to Jean Paul. ?
Fierce animosity toward the dynastic policies
of Germany permeated whatever he wrote:
even his literary and dramatic criticism was
biased by this passion. His last completed
work, Menzel the French-devourer) (Franz-
osenfresser), is proof that to the last his voice
was still for war. His (Complete Works, in
12 vols. , were published in 1863.
Borneil, Giraut de (bor-nāy'). A Provençal
troubadour of the 12th century; a native of
## p. 68 (#84) ##############################################
68
BORNEMANN - BOTTA
are
Exideuil, Dordogne. His contemporaries be-
stowed on him the sobriquet Master of
Troubadours. ) Some 80 of his songs
extant; among them the charming song of the
morning, Alba.
Bornemann, Wilhelm (būr'ne-män). A Low-
German dialect poet (1766-1851); born at
Gardelegen. He is one of the foremost repre-
sentatives of modern Low-German poetry. His
works are: (Low-German Poems) (1810), re-
published in a 10th edition in 1891 ; Pictures
of Nature and the Chase) (1829); Humorous
Hunting Songs.
Bornier, Henri Vicomte de (bör-nē-a'). A
French dramatist, member of the Academy;
born at Lunel, Dec. 25, 1825. His plays are
notable for splendor of diction. Among them
are: (Luther's Wedding' (1845); “Dante and
Beatrice); (The Daughter of Roland. ' He
twice won the prize of the Academy, with the
lyrics (The Isthmus of Suez) (1861) and
(France in the Extreme East) (1863). He is
the author of several successful novels and
romances.
Borrow, George. An English philologist
and traveler; born in East Dereham, Norfolk,
February 1803; died in Qulton, Suffolk, July 30,
1881. His linguistic talents are shown in Tar-
gum; or, Metrical Translations from Thirty
Languages) (St. Petersburg, 1835), and Ro.
mano Lavo-Lil, or Word-Book of the Romany)
(1874). The other chief of his fourteen works
are: “The Zincali, or Gipsies of Spain' (Lon.
don, 1841); (The Bible in Spain' (1843); "La-
vengro) (1851); “The Romany Rye, its sequel
(1857); and (Wild Wales) (1862). *
Bosboom, Anna Louisa Geertruida (bos'.
bām).
A Dutch novelist (1812-86); born
(Toussaint) at Alkmaar. Her first work, Al-
magro,' was published in 1837. It was followed
by a long series of others; but she won no
high distinction till 1860, when she published
(The House of Lauernesse,' by far her most
successful novel, which was translated into
several languages. Nearly all her works are
historical novels; and in the two very essential
particulars of knowledge of the historical epochs
and of the human heart, she has a just claim
to rank among the notable writers in that de.
partment of literature.
Boscan Almogavr, Juan (bos-kän' äl-mo-
gä-vār') A distinguished Spanish poet (1493-
1540); born in Barcelona. While attached to
the court of Charles V. at Granada he was led
to a study of Italian poetry, and was the first
to employ the Italian measures in Castilian
song. Again, in a poem imitative of Musæus's
“Hero and Leander,' he was the first to intro-
duce in Spain rhymeless verse.
collected and published in 1543, had 21 editions
in the 16th century. *
Bosio, Ferdinando (bös'yo or bo'zē-7). An
Italian man of letters; born at Alba, Piedmont,
1829; died there, Oct. 16, 1881. He was for
several years teacher of rhetoric and literature,
and afterward chief clerk of the ministry of
public education. In 1853 he published a vol-
ume of lyrics: (Democracy, with a Collection
of Ballads. He wrote many novels, all pos-
sessing the charm of an exquisite style,-
(Home Scenes and Stories) (1874). Among
his historical writings is a Popular History of
the Popes. His miscellaneous writings, politi.
cal and literary, (A Little of Everything,' were
published in 1878.
Bossuet, Jacques Bénigne (bo-sü-ā'). A
French theologian and pulpit orator; born at
Dijon, Sept. 27, 1627; died April 12, 1704. He
became in 1681 Bishop of Meaux. The History
of the Variations of the Protestant Churches!
(1688) is still a standard work. One of his most
elaborate works is the Defense of the Famous
Declaration which the Gallican Clergy Approved
regarding the Power of the Church) (1730).
Hardly less celebrated is his (Discourse upon
Universal History down to the Empire of
Charlemagne) (1681). His Complete Works,
in 46 vols. , were published by the Benedictines
(1815-19). *
Boswell, Sir Alexander. A Scottish anti-
quary and poet; born at Auchinleck, Ayrshire,
Oct. 9, 1775; died in Balmuto, March 27, 1822.
He was the son of James Boswell the biogra-
pher of Johnson; was educated at Oxford ;
and at his father's death in 1795, succeeded to
Auchinleck. He studied the literature of Scot-
land, imitated the ballad style, and published
original poems and reprints from his private
printing-press. Ilis (Songs Chiefly in the Scot-
tish Dialect) (1803) were very popular.
Boswell, James. A Scottish biographer;
born in Edinburgh, Oct. 29, 1740; died in Lon.
don, May 19, 1795. He was educated at Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, admitted to the bar in
1766, and early showed a love for letters. His
(Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson) (1791) is con-
sidered the most entertaining biography in the
English language. The best modern editions
are by Napier (4 vols. , 1884), and G. Birkbeck
Hill (6 vols. , 1887). He also wrote (Journal of
a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson
(1746), and many other books, the most suc-
cessful of which was (An Account of Corsica
and Memoirs of Pascal Paoli (1768). *
Botero, Giuseppe (bo'tā-ro). An Italian ro-
mancist; born at Novara, 1815; died 1885. He
was all his life an educator, serving as director
of high schools or lyceums in various cities of
northern Italy. He wrote many stories, among
them : (Ricciarda) (1854); (Raffaele (1858);
(Nella of Cortemiglia'; and several apologues,
among them : (My Lady); (To Live Well is
to Do Good); Love and Nature. '
Botta, Anna Charlotte Lynch. An Ameri-
can poet and essayist; born in Bennington, Vt. ,
Nov. II, 1815; died in New York city, March
23, 1891. She came to New York in 1842, and
in 1855 was married to Vincenzo Botta. Mrs
Botta's home in New York was a centre for
literary and artistic people from the days of Poe,
His poems,
## p. 69 (#85) ##############################################
BOTTA- BOUILLY
69
Willis, and Bryant, until her death. She was
the author of stories, essays, Poems) (1848;
new ed. 1884), and (A Handbook of Universal
Literature (1845).
Botta, Carlo Giuseppe Guglielmo (bot-tä).
An eminent Italian historian; born near Can-
avese in the Piedmontese, Nov. 6, 1766; died
Aug. 10, 1837. For his sympathy with the
French Revolution he suffered imprisonment
two years, and then went to France, where
he entered the military service as surgeon. He
afterward held several offices of responsibility
under the empire and the restored monarchy.
Besides numerous minor works in French, he
published in Italian (1809) a (History of the
War of Independence of the United States of
America); and (1824) a (History of Italy from
1789 to 1814, in four volumes. He also con-
tinued Guicciardini from 1535 to 1789 (10 vols. ).
Böttger, Adolf (bėt'cher). A German poet
(1815-70); born at Leipsic. He made admira-
ble translations into German verse of Byron's
Complete Works) (1840; 7th ed. 1891), of Pope,
Goldsmith, (Songs of Ossian, and Long-
fellow's (Hiawatha'; he was less successful
with some pieces of Shakespeare. Of his ori-
ginal poetry the best specimens are the poetical
fairy tales (Pilgrimage of the Flower Sprites);
and especially the fantasy of "The Little Man
of the Gallows,' a little (Faustiad.
(John Bull and his Island (1883), he abandoned
teaching and devoted himself to literature. He
has made several lecturing-tours of the United
States. His works include : John Bull and his
Daughters) (1884); Jonathan and his Conti-
nent) (1888, with Jack Allyn); (A Frenchman
in America) (1891); John Bull & Co. (1894).
Blum, Ernest (blüm). A French dramatist;
born in Paris, Aug. 15, 1836. Either alone or
in collaboration with other dramatists he is
author of many highly successful plays. The
drama of (Rose Michel (1877), of his own
composition, insured his place among the
most successful French dramatists of the time.
Among his later compositions are : (Adam and
Eve) (1886); (The Nervous Women(1888);
(End of the Century) (1890).
Blumenreich, Franziska (blo'men-rich). A
German novelist; born in Bohemia, April 2,
1849. Among her very numerous novels these
are the more notable : (At the Abyss of Mar-
riage) (1888); (Freighted with Bliss) (1890);
(Storms in Port) (1892). She is a zealous
advocate of woman's rights.
Blumenthal, Oskar (blö'men-täl). A Ger-
man dramatist and critic; born in Berlin,
March 13, 1852. Sprightliness of dialogue is
the most distinguishing character of his plays;
the most successful of them are : (The Big
Bell); (A Drop of Poison); (The Black Veil. )
He has published several volumes of critical
and miscellaneous essays.
Blunt, Wilfrid Scawen. An Irish poet;
born at Crabbet Park, Sussex, in 1840. He
was attaché of legation at The Hague, Athens,
Madrid, Buenos Ayres, and elsewhere. He
supported Arabi Pasha in a revolt in 1881, in
Egypt; and was imprisoned in 1888 for his
insurrectionary actions in Ireland. He is author
of : “Sonnets and Songs by Proteus) (London,
1875); (The Love Sonnets of Proteus) (1881;
new ed. 1885); (The Future of Islam? (1882);
(The Wind and the Whirlwind, political
poems (1884); "Ideas about India) (1885); and
Esther: a Young Man's Tragedy) (1895).
Blüthgen, August Edward Viktor (blūt'-
gen). A German novelist; born at Zörbig,
near Halle, Jan. 4. 1844. He has won high
distinction as a writer for the young. Among
his stories for boys and girls are : (The
Rogues' Looking-Glass) (1876); (The Battle
of Frogs and Mice) (1878); and with these
is to be classed the letterpress (verses) of
0. Pletsch's Picture Books. Of novels and
romances he is author of a great many: 1. g. ,
(The Peace-Breaker) (1883); (The Step-Sister)
(1887); (Madame the Countess) (1892).
Blyden, Edward Wilmot. A negro author;
born at St. Thomas, W. I. , Aug. 3, 1832. After
vainly seeking, in 1845, admission to some col-
lege in the United States, he went to Liberia,
and graduated at the Alexander High School,
Boardman, George Dana. A distinguished
American clergyman and author; born at
Tavoy, British Burma, Aug. 18, 1828. He was
the son of the eminent American Baptist mis-
sionary of the same name. He was educated
in the United States, graduating at Brown
University in 1852 and at Newton Theological
Institution in 1855. He became pastor at Barn-
well, S. C. ; afterwards at Rochester, N. Y. , till
1864, when he became pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church in Philadelphia. Besides sermons
and essays, his chief works are: (Studies
in the Creative Week) (1878); (Studies in the
Model Prayer) (1879); Epiphanies of the
Risen Lord) (1879); (Studies in the Mountain
Instruction (1880).
Boccaccio, Giovanni (bok-kä'cho). A cele.
brated Italian novelist, poet, and humanist;
born at Paris, 1313; died Dec. 21, 1375. His
first romance was "Filocopo,' dedicated to his
mistress Fiammetta. The romantic epic the
(Theseid) followed; it is the first Italian work
of the kind. Both for itself and for its associa-
tions, the (Theseid is of interest to students
of English literature, having been a source
of inspiration to Chaucer in his (Knightes
Tale. (Fiammetta in Love) is a work of
the finest psychological analysis, clothed in
every grace of poesy. Love's Labyrinth) is
a vigorous satire on woman. But Boccaccio's
enduring fame rests on the Decameron); a
collection of stories original and borrowed,
set in a narrative framework, all of the high-
est charm. *
Bodenstedt, Friedrich Martin von (bö'den-
stet). [“Mirza Schaffy. ”] A noted German
poet and journalist; born 1819; died 1892.
His works include: Poetical Ukraine); “The
People of the Caucasus and their Struggle for
Freedom against the Russians); (Thousand
and One Days in the East); and many others
dealing with Oriental themes. *
Bodmer, Johann Jakob (bod'mer). A Swiss
scholar and literary critic; born near Zürich,
July 19, 1698; died Jan. 2, 1783. He was the
first to make English literature known in Ger-
many; and wrote dramas, and the epics (The
Deluge) (1751) and Noah) (1752). He pub-
lished two volumes of (Critical Letters,' and
prepared editions of ancient German poetry:
(Specimens of Thirteenth-Century Suabian
Poetry); (Fables from the Time of the Minne-
singers) ; (Kriemhilde's Revenge); etc. *
Bödtcher, Ludwig (bėt'che). A Danish lyr.
ist (1793-1874); born at Copenhagen. He spent
## p. 65 (#81) ##############################################
BOËTIUS-BOISGOBEY
65
(
many years in Italy, and nature and man in
Italy equally with nature and man in Den-
mark are the themes of his finest poems,
notably Bacchus,' and the collection called
(Poems Old and New)
Boëtius or Boëthius, Anicius Manlius Tor-
quatus Severinus (bo-e'thi-us). A Roman
didactic poet and statesman; born between
470 and 475; died about 525. While in prison,
rightly anticipating execution, he composed his
celebrated (Consolation of Philosophy. It pur-
ports to be a dialogue between Philosophy and
her votary, and is in both prose and verse. *
Bogaers, Adriaan (bo'gärs). A Dutch poet
(1795-1870); born at The Hague. He holds
eminent place among the many disciples of
Tollens, and surpasses his master in correct-
ness of taste. He long withheld his composi-
tions from publication, and not till 1832 did
he become known to his countrymen; he then
published his first lyric poem, "Volharding,' -
an appeal to his countrymen to stand fast in the
struggle with Belgium,- together with other
patriotic pieces. His first poem of any con-
siderable compass, the epic (Jochebed, and
his masterpiece, “The Voyage of Heemskerk
to Gibraltar, were first formally published in
1860-61, though they had had for many years
a private circulation among friends. He after-
ward, published three volumes : Ballads and
Romances); (Flowers of Poesy from Abroad);
and Poems.
Bogart, William Henry (bo'gärt). An
American biographer; born at Albany, N. Y. ,
1810; died 1888. He wrote: Life of Daniel
Boone) (7th thousand, 1856); (Who Goes
There? ) etc.
Bogdanovich, Ippolit Feodorovich (bog-dä-
nõ'vich). A Russian poet (1744-1803); born
in Little Russia. His early poems, written
when he was a boy, won for him admission to
the university. His most celebrated work is
a charming free elaboration of Lafontaine's
(Loves of Psyche and Cupid. He also wrote
dramas and comedies, and published a collec-
tion of (Proverbs. '
Bogdanovich, Modést Ivanovich. A Rus-
sian military historian and commander; born
1805; died in Oranienbaum, Aug. 6, 1882. He
was a very able soldier, and even abler with
the pen; his Bonaparte's Campaign in Italy,
1796 (2d ed. 1860) and History of the Art
of War,' and particularly his (History of the
Campaign of 1812) (2d ed. 1861), having at-
tracted wide notice.
Bögh, Erik (bėg). A Danish poet and dram-
atist; born in Copenhagen, Jan. 17, 1822. He
is best known for his witty stanzas and epi-
grams in periodicals, for (This and That, a
collection of humorous essays, and for a hun-
dred or so of plays and farces. A novel,
Jonas Tvärmose's Vexations, has merit.
Bogović, Mirko (bo'gā-vich). A Croatian
poet (1816-93) ; born at Agram. His first liter-
ary work was in translating Serb poetry into
German. His original lyric poems appeared
under the title “Violets) (1844); being fol-
lowed by two successful volumes of his col-
lected verse.
He wrote also dramas, among
them the tragedy (Stephen, Last King of Bos-
nia); and several novels.
Boguslavski, Adalbert (bő-gö-slav'ske). A
Polish dramatist (1759-1829); born near Posen.
He composed the first opera ever written in
the Polish language. For several years he was
director of theatres in various towns, and in
1790 became director of the National Theatre
at Warsaw. As an actor he excelled alike in
tragedy and in comedy, and he formed many
pupils who gained high distinction on the
stage. The best of his dramatic compositions
is the popular melodrama (The Wonder, or
the Men of Krakau and the Mountaineers. )
Böhlau, Helene (bė'lou). A German novel-
ist; born at Weim, Nov. 22, 1859. She shows
now and then a leaning toward the romantic
school, but on the whole her high power of
description is realistic and her writings are
imbued with passion. Among her novels are :
(Under Death's Ban) (1882); (Guilty of a Pure
Heart) (1888); (In Freshwater) (1891).
Böhme, Jakob (bė'mė). A German mystic
theologian; born in Altseidenburg, in the
Oberlausitz, 1575; died in Görlitz, Nov. 17,
1624. He was a peasant's son and learned the
shoemaker's trade; but his lack of early advan-
tages was recompensed by the heavenly illu-
minations with which he was favored, and
which are set forth in about twenty books,-
among them (Aurora, or the Sunrise) (1612).
He was very widely read at one time, and still
has devoted adherents. But he himself ac-
knowledges the obscurity of his writings.
Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas (bwä-lö'dā.
prā-o'). A noted French poet and critic; born
in Paris, Nov. I, 1636; died March 13, 1711.
His first effort was (The Farewell of a Poet
to the City of Paris) (1660), and six years
later published collectedly seven satires (after-
ward increased to twelve), in which he casti-
gates even the magnates of the literary world.
Following the vein worked by Horace, he
published (The Art of Poetry (1674). In
reply to the critics Boileau composed (The
Reading-Desk, a comic epic which is esteemed
a masterpiece. *
Boisard, François Marie (bwä-zär). A
French fabulist (1744-1833). Of all the French
fabulists he is least an imitator of the great
Lafontaine. His Fables) were at first pub-
lished in the newspaper Mercure de France,
and afterwards gathered in two collections.
His (Ode on the Deluge) was crowned by the
Rouen Academy, 1790.
Boisgobey, Fortuné-Abraham du (bwä-go-
bā'). A French novelist; born in Granville,
Sept. II, 1821; died in February 1891. In
1844-48 he was paymaster in the army at
Algiers, and began to write in 1868, somewhat
on the lines of Emile Gaboriau. His novels
5
## p. 66 (#82) ##############################################
66
BOISSIER - BOLTON
were popular, and include: (The Scoundrels)
(Paris, 1873); (Chevalier Casse-Con (1873);
(The Mysteries of Modern Paris) (1876); (The
Demi-Monde under the Terror) (1877); (The
Old Age of M. Lecoq' (1878); (The Cat's
Eye) (1888); and (The Cold Hland) (1879).
Boissier, Gaston (bwä-syā'). A French bio-
graphical and critical writer; born at Nîmes,
1823. He is a member of the Academy, and has.
won celebrity with (Cicero and his Friends);
"Life of Madame de Sévigné); (Archeological
Walks in Rome and Naples); and others. He
is a frequent contributor to French periodical
literature. *
Boito, Arrigo (bő-e'to). An Italian poet
and musician; born at Padua, 1842. His father
was an Italian painter and his mother was a
Polish lady, and the son inherits the gifts of
both nations. His librettos written for Verdi,
Bottesini, and others, and his own operas,
(Mefistofele) and Nerone,' are of a high order
of poetry. In 1877 he published a separate
volume of verse.
Bojardo, Matteo Maria (bő-yär'dő). A cele-
brated Italian poet; born at Scandiano, about
1434; died at Reggio, Dec. 21, 1494. He was
of noble origin in Lombardy, and all his life
held high and responsible posts in the civil
government at Modena and at Reggio. His
great fame rests on the romantic epic (Orlando
in Love, which tells of the loves of Char-
lemagne's knight Roland and the fair Angelica
and the adventures connected therewith. The
epic was planned to be completed in three
books, but at the author's death only two books,
of 29 and 31 cantos respectively, were finished;
the composition of the third book had reached
only the ninth canto. Niccolò degli Agostini
wrote a continuation in 33 cantos. In point
of imagination and invention Bojardo ranks
among the greatest poets. But his versification
is far from perfect, and his language lacks
grace and purity; because of these and other
blemishes the (Orlando) was recast and pol-
ished by Francesco Berni, and with eminent
German novelist; born at Niedergailbach, Aug.
9, 1828. A Catholic theologian, and high in
favor at the papal court, his fictions, all brilliant
in style and conception, attack the Protestant
standpoint from all directions;-'A Wedding
Trip'; Queen Bertha); Barbarossa); (The
Free-Thinkers); and Historical Tales of Fred-
erick II, and his Times,' being noteworthy
examples.
Boldrewood, Rolf, pseudonym of Thomas
Alexander Browne. An Australian author:
born in England in 1827. He is a son of
Capt. Sylvester J. Browne, a founder of Vel.
bourne, Australia. He was educated in Sidney
College, and has written : (Ups and Downs :
a Story of Australian Life) (London, 1879:)
(Robbery under Arms: Life and Adventures in
the Bush) (1888); (A Squatter's Dream Story)
(1890); and “A Modern Buccaneer) (1894).
Bolingbroke, Henry St. John, Viscount. A
celebrated English statesman, orator, and au-
thor ; born at Battersea, Oct. I, 1678; died there,
Dec. 12, 1751. He entered Parliament in 1701;
became Secretary of War 1704-8, and Sec-
retary of State in 1710. In 1712 he entered the
House of Lords, and in 1713 negotiated the
Peace of Utrecht. On the accession of George
I. he fled to the Continent, and in 1715 was
attainted of treason; but in 1723 he was per
mitted to return. His chief works are: "A
Dissertation on Parties); "Letters on the Study
of History); Letters on the Spirit of Patriot-
ism); and (The Idea of a Patriot King. He
was a Deist, but taught that a statesman
should profess the doctrines of the Church of
England. He was an effective orator; but the
style of his philosophical and political works,
though polished, is heavy and declamatory.
Bolintineanu, Dimitrie (bo-lēn-tê-na-än'). A
Roumanian poet; born at Bolintina in Wallachia,
1826; died Sept. 1, 1872. He is widely known
for the beauty of the stanzas comprising his
earliest collected verse, "Songs and Plaints. "
He wrote also a successful novel, Helena,
and an epic poem, "The Trajanid, besides
Roumanian ballads and the philosophical epic
of (Manoil.
Bolles, Frank (bölz. ) An American essayist
and poet; born in Massachusetts, 1856; died
1894. He wrote: (From Blomidon to Smoky;)
(Land of the Lingering Snow,' etc. ; in verse,
(Chocorua's Tenants.
Bolton, Charles Knowles (böl'ton). An
American poet and miscellaneous writer, son
of Mrs. Sarah Knowles Bolton; born in Ohio,
1867.
He is librarian of Brookline, Mass. He
has written in prose : (Gossiping Guide to
Harvard, (Saskia, the Wife of Rembrandt,
etc. ; in verse : (The Wooing of Martha Pit-
kin' Love Story of L'rsula Wolcott, etc.
Bolton, Henry Carrington. An American
scientific writer; born in New York, 1843. He
was professor of chemistry and natural science
at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. Besides
works on chemistry he has written: "The
3
success.
Bok, Edward William. An American editor
and essayist; born in Holland, 1863. He has edited
the Ladies' Home Journal, and written (The
Young Man in Business) and (Successward. "
Boker, George Henry. An American poet
and dramatist; born in Philadelphia, Pa. , Oct.
6, 1823; died there, Jan. 2, 1890. He graduated
from Princeton in 1842; studied law; and was
United States minister to Turkey in 1871-75,
and to Russia in 1875–79. His plays include:
(Calaynos) (1848); Anne Boleyn) (1850);
(Francesca di Rimini); (The Betrothed”; and
(All the World's a Mask. Collected plays and
poems (Boston, 1856). Also (Poems of the
War' (1864); (Königsmark and other Poems)
(1869); (The Book of the Dead) (1882); and
(Sonnets) (1886). *
Bolanden, Konrad von (bo'län-den), pseudo-
nym of Joseph Eduard Konrad Bischoff. A
## p. 67 (#83) ##############################################
BOLTON – BORNEIL
67
Counting-Out Rhymes of Children, a Study in
Folk-Lore) (1888): Literature of Manganese );
and Students' Guide in Quantitative Analysis. '
Bolton, Sarah Knowles. An American au-
thor; born in Farmington, Conn. , Sept. 15, 1841.
She married Charles E. Bolton, a merchant
and philanthropist, and resides in Cleveland,
0. She is the author of a number of books, in
cluding : Girls who Became Famous) (1886);
(Famous American Authors) 1887); (Famous
American Statesmen (1888); (Famous Types of
Womanhood) (1892); etc.
Bolton, Sarah Tittle. An American poet;
born in Newport, Ky. , Dec. 18, 1815; died in
Indianapolis, Ind. , Aug. 4, 1893. She is known
for her patriotic and war poems, including:
Paddle Your Own Canoe); Left on the Bat-
tlefield); etc. (Poems) (New York, 1865; In-
dianapolis, 1886).
Bonacci-Brunamonti, Maria Alinda (bo-
nä'che-brö-nä-mon'tē). An Italian poet; born
in Perugia, 1842. She was only fourteen years
old when her first Collection of Poems) ap-
peared and attracted much attention. Her
National Songs) (1859-78) were inspired by
Italy's struggle for freedom.
Bonar, Horatius (bon'är). A celebrated
Scotch hymnist; born in Edinburgh, Dec. 19,
1808; died July 31, 1889. He wrote Hymns
of Faith and Hope,' many of which have been
taken into the hymnals of most of the Prot-
estant churches. He also wrote more than 20
volumes on theological and religious subjects.
Bonaventura, Saint (bā''nä-ven-to'rä). An
Italian theologian and scholar; born at Ba-
gnarea, 1221; died 1274. His real name was
Giovanni di Fidenza. His writings include:
"Life of Saint Francis); 'Progress of the Mind
towards God”; “Breviloquium'; and many ser-
mons and treatises on theological subjects. *
Bonavino, Cristoforo. See Franchi.
Bondi, Clemente (bon'dē). An Italian poet;
born near Parma, June 27, 1742; died at Vienna,
June 20, 1821. At the suppression of the Com-
pany of Jesus, he, though a Jesuit, lauded that
act in a poem and had to flee his country.
While yet a member of the Jesuit order he
wrote a spirited humorous poem, "Rural Days)
(1773), in three cantos, descriptive of the pranks
and sports of a band of students.
Boner, John Henry. An American poet and
literary worker; born at Salem, N. C. , Jan. 31,
1845. A contributor to the magazines, he was
on the editorial staff of the Century Diction-
ary) and the (Standard Dictionary,' and was
once literary editor of the New York World.
He has written "Whispering Pines) (1883), a
volume of verse.
Bonghi, Ruggero (bon'ge). An Italian
scholar and controversial writer; born in Na-
ples, March 21, 1826. The commencement of
his brilliant career indicated scholarly activi-
ties only, for he made fine studies and versions
of Aristotle and Plato; but latterly he has
taken up such subjects as "The Financial His-
tory of Italy, 1864-88) (1868); “The Life and
Times of Valentino Pasini) (1867); and (The
Life of Jesus) (1890); the popularity and value
of these and other works giving him great
prominence.
Boniface. See Saintine.
Bonnechose, Émile Boisnormand de (bôn-
shoz'). A French poet and historian (1801-75);
born at Leyerdorp in Holland. His one nota-
ble poetical composition is (The Death of
Bailly) (1833). Besides a (History of France)
he is author of: (Reformers before the 16th-
Century Reformation) (1844); (The Four Con-
quests of England) (2 vols. , 1851); (History of
England (4 vols. , 1859).
Bonnières, Robert de (bôn-vār'). A French
journalist and novelist; born at Paris, April
7, 1850. He commenced his literary career as
contributor to Paris journals of spirited but
waspish biographs of contemporary men: these
were collected and published in three succes-
sive volumes of Memoirs of To-day. His
novels are full of transparent allusions to noted
persons, and have had a very great vogue. In
one of them, “The Monarch, he portrays high
Jewish society in Paris.
Booth, Mary Louise. An American writer;
born in Yaphank, L. I. , April 19, 1831 ; died in
New York city, March 5, 1889. She was editor
of Harper's Bazar from 1867 until her death ;
translated many novels and histories, including
Gasparin's (Uprising of a Great People, and
H. Martin's (History of France) (6 vols. , 1880).
Borel, Pétrus (bo-rel'). [Properly Pierre
Borel d'Hauterive. ] A French journalist and
author; born in Lyons, June 28, 1809; died in
Algeria, July 14, 1859. His character was ec-
centric: he surnamed himself the «Were-
wolf, and his writings both prose and verse
were romantic and bizarre. They include:
(Rhapsodies,' poems (Paris, 1831); "Champa-
vert, stories (1833); and (Madam Potiphar, a
novel (2 vols. , 1839).
Börne, Ludwig (bėr'ne). An eminent Ger-
man political writer; born at Frankfort-on-the
Main, of Jewish parents, May 6, 1786; died at
Paris, Feb. 12, 1837. He founded and for three
years conducted Die Wage, a journal devoted
to civics, science, and art. Of his numerous
satirical sketches, all full of humor and wit,
these are perhaps the most brilliant: (Mono-
graph on the German Postal Snail); (The Art
of Becoming an Original Author in Three
Days); Memorial Address to Jean Paul. ?
Fierce animosity toward the dynastic policies
of Germany permeated whatever he wrote:
even his literary and dramatic criticism was
biased by this passion. His last completed
work, Menzel the French-devourer) (Franz-
osenfresser), is proof that to the last his voice
was still for war. His (Complete Works, in
12 vols. , were published in 1863.
Borneil, Giraut de (bor-nāy'). A Provençal
troubadour of the 12th century; a native of
## p. 68 (#84) ##############################################
68
BORNEMANN - BOTTA
are
Exideuil, Dordogne. His contemporaries be-
stowed on him the sobriquet Master of
Troubadours. ) Some 80 of his songs
extant; among them the charming song of the
morning, Alba.
Bornemann, Wilhelm (būr'ne-män). A Low-
German dialect poet (1766-1851); born at
Gardelegen. He is one of the foremost repre-
sentatives of modern Low-German poetry. His
works are: (Low-German Poems) (1810), re-
published in a 10th edition in 1891 ; Pictures
of Nature and the Chase) (1829); Humorous
Hunting Songs.
Bornier, Henri Vicomte de (bör-nē-a'). A
French dramatist, member of the Academy;
born at Lunel, Dec. 25, 1825. His plays are
notable for splendor of diction. Among them
are: (Luther's Wedding' (1845); “Dante and
Beatrice); (The Daughter of Roland. ' He
twice won the prize of the Academy, with the
lyrics (The Isthmus of Suez) (1861) and
(France in the Extreme East) (1863). He is
the author of several successful novels and
romances.
Borrow, George. An English philologist
and traveler; born in East Dereham, Norfolk,
February 1803; died in Qulton, Suffolk, July 30,
1881. His linguistic talents are shown in Tar-
gum; or, Metrical Translations from Thirty
Languages) (St. Petersburg, 1835), and Ro.
mano Lavo-Lil, or Word-Book of the Romany)
(1874). The other chief of his fourteen works
are: “The Zincali, or Gipsies of Spain' (Lon.
don, 1841); (The Bible in Spain' (1843); "La-
vengro) (1851); “The Romany Rye, its sequel
(1857); and (Wild Wales) (1862). *
Bosboom, Anna Louisa Geertruida (bos'.
bām).
A Dutch novelist (1812-86); born
(Toussaint) at Alkmaar. Her first work, Al-
magro,' was published in 1837. It was followed
by a long series of others; but she won no
high distinction till 1860, when she published
(The House of Lauernesse,' by far her most
successful novel, which was translated into
several languages. Nearly all her works are
historical novels; and in the two very essential
particulars of knowledge of the historical epochs
and of the human heart, she has a just claim
to rank among the notable writers in that de.
partment of literature.
Boscan Almogavr, Juan (bos-kän' äl-mo-
gä-vār') A distinguished Spanish poet (1493-
1540); born in Barcelona. While attached to
the court of Charles V. at Granada he was led
to a study of Italian poetry, and was the first
to employ the Italian measures in Castilian
song. Again, in a poem imitative of Musæus's
“Hero and Leander,' he was the first to intro-
duce in Spain rhymeless verse.
collected and published in 1543, had 21 editions
in the 16th century. *
Bosio, Ferdinando (bös'yo or bo'zē-7). An
Italian man of letters; born at Alba, Piedmont,
1829; died there, Oct. 16, 1881. He was for
several years teacher of rhetoric and literature,
and afterward chief clerk of the ministry of
public education. In 1853 he published a vol-
ume of lyrics: (Democracy, with a Collection
of Ballads. He wrote many novels, all pos-
sessing the charm of an exquisite style,-
(Home Scenes and Stories) (1874). Among
his historical writings is a Popular History of
the Popes. His miscellaneous writings, politi.
cal and literary, (A Little of Everything,' were
published in 1878.
Bossuet, Jacques Bénigne (bo-sü-ā'). A
French theologian and pulpit orator; born at
Dijon, Sept. 27, 1627; died April 12, 1704. He
became in 1681 Bishop of Meaux. The History
of the Variations of the Protestant Churches!
(1688) is still a standard work. One of his most
elaborate works is the Defense of the Famous
Declaration which the Gallican Clergy Approved
regarding the Power of the Church) (1730).
Hardly less celebrated is his (Discourse upon
Universal History down to the Empire of
Charlemagne) (1681). His Complete Works,
in 46 vols. , were published by the Benedictines
(1815-19). *
Boswell, Sir Alexander. A Scottish anti-
quary and poet; born at Auchinleck, Ayrshire,
Oct. 9, 1775; died in Balmuto, March 27, 1822.
He was the son of James Boswell the biogra-
pher of Johnson; was educated at Oxford ;
and at his father's death in 1795, succeeded to
Auchinleck. He studied the literature of Scot-
land, imitated the ballad style, and published
original poems and reprints from his private
printing-press. Ilis (Songs Chiefly in the Scot-
tish Dialect) (1803) were very popular.
Boswell, James. A Scottish biographer;
born in Edinburgh, Oct. 29, 1740; died in Lon.
don, May 19, 1795. He was educated at Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, admitted to the bar in
1766, and early showed a love for letters. His
(Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson) (1791) is con-
sidered the most entertaining biography in the
English language. The best modern editions
are by Napier (4 vols. , 1884), and G. Birkbeck
Hill (6 vols. , 1887). He also wrote (Journal of
a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson
(1746), and many other books, the most suc-
cessful of which was (An Account of Corsica
and Memoirs of Pascal Paoli (1768). *
Botero, Giuseppe (bo'tā-ro). An Italian ro-
mancist; born at Novara, 1815; died 1885. He
was all his life an educator, serving as director
of high schools or lyceums in various cities of
northern Italy. He wrote many stories, among
them : (Ricciarda) (1854); (Raffaele (1858);
(Nella of Cortemiglia'; and several apologues,
among them : (My Lady); (To Live Well is
to Do Good); Love and Nature. '
Botta, Anna Charlotte Lynch. An Ameri-
can poet and essayist; born in Bennington, Vt. ,
Nov. II, 1815; died in New York city, March
23, 1891. She came to New York in 1842, and
in 1855 was married to Vincenzo Botta. Mrs
Botta's home in New York was a centre for
literary and artistic people from the days of Poe,
His poems,
## p. 69 (#85) ##############################################
BOTTA- BOUILLY
69
Willis, and Bryant, until her death. She was
the author of stories, essays, Poems) (1848;
new ed. 1884), and (A Handbook of Universal
Literature (1845).
Botta, Carlo Giuseppe Guglielmo (bot-tä).
An eminent Italian historian; born near Can-
avese in the Piedmontese, Nov. 6, 1766; died
Aug. 10, 1837. For his sympathy with the
French Revolution he suffered imprisonment
two years, and then went to France, where
he entered the military service as surgeon. He
afterward held several offices of responsibility
under the empire and the restored monarchy.
Besides numerous minor works in French, he
published in Italian (1809) a (History of the
War of Independence of the United States of
America); and (1824) a (History of Italy from
1789 to 1814, in four volumes. He also con-
tinued Guicciardini from 1535 to 1789 (10 vols. ).
Böttger, Adolf (bėt'cher). A German poet
(1815-70); born at Leipsic. He made admira-
ble translations into German verse of Byron's
Complete Works) (1840; 7th ed. 1891), of Pope,
Goldsmith, (Songs of Ossian, and Long-
fellow's (Hiawatha'; he was less successful
with some pieces of Shakespeare. Of his ori-
ginal poetry the best specimens are the poetical
fairy tales (Pilgrimage of the Flower Sprites);
and especially the fantasy of "The Little Man
of the Gallows,' a little (Faustiad.
