Gerard Manley Hopkins

Gerard Manley Hopkins (28 July 1844 – 8 June 1889) was an English poet and Jesuit priest. Although his poetry was not widely known during his lifetime, his prosody – notably his concept of sprung rhythm – made him an innovator, as did his praise of God through vivid use of imagery and nature.

After his death Robert Bridges published a few of Hopkins's mature poems in anthologies. By 1930 Hopkins's work was seen as one of the most original literary advances of his century.

Gerard Manley Hopkins was born in Stratford, Essex (now in Greater London), as the eldest of nine children to Manley and Catherine Hopkins, née Smith. He was christened at the Anglican church of St John's, Stratford.