Edward Fairfax (c. 1580 – 27 January 1635) was an English translator.[1][2] He translated Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered. He also wrote an original work on demonology.

Life

He was the natural son of Sir Thomas Fairfax the elder, of Denton in Yorkshire, and a half-brother of Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1560–1640). Fairfax lived at New Hall, Fewston,[3] near Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

He is best known for his translation of Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, considered a masterpiece.[4] It is one of the comparatively few translations which in themselves are literature and was highly praised by John Dryden. The first edition appeared in 1600, and was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Fairfax also wrote a treatise on demonology,[5] in which he was a devout believer.[6]

Edward's daughters Elizabeth and Anne were baptised in the village church of Fewston in 1606 and 1621 respectively.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Bullen, Arthur Henry (1889). "Fairfax, Edward". In Dictionary of National Biography. 18. London. pp. 131-132. Errata appended, 1904.
  2. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Fairfax, Edward". Encyclopædia Britannica. 10. (11th ed.) Cambridge University Press. p. 130.
  3. ^ a b The History and Topology of Harrogate and Knaresbourough Forest by William Grainge
  4. ^ Tasso, T., Fairfax, E. (1818). Godfrey of Bulloigne; or, The recovery of Jerusalem: done into English heroical verse, from the Italian of Tasso. 5th ed., reprinted from the original folio of 1600. London: Printed for Edwards and Knibb.
  5. ^ Fairfax, Edward; Grainge, William (10 September 2010). Demonologia : A Discourse on Witchcraft as It Was Acted in the Family of Mr. Edward Fairfax. United States: Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 9781163086810. Retrieved 18 April 2021. Book by Fairfax, introduction by William Grainge. Facsimile edition. Originally published by Ackrill, Harrogte, 1882
  6. ^ Cousin 1910.
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). "Fairfax, Edward". A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons – via Wikisource.

References

External links

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