George Crabbe (1754-1832)

English poet, born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. In 1780 Crabbe went to London, where he published The Library (1781) with the help of Edmund Burke. In 1783 he published The Village, a poem in heroic couplets which brought him a reputation as a poet. "Sir Eustace Grey" (1807) showed his gift as a narrative poet, followed by Tales in Verse (1812). His poetry in the manner of the traditional ballad is always unsentimental in its depiction of madness, hallucination, and uncontrolled passions.   (M. Y.)