Thomas Moore is a famous name in the field of literature and music of Dublin, Ireland. This famous poet, composer, satirist and musician was born in Dublin on May 28, 1779. Moore was a celebrated Irish poet and also a close friend of Lord Byron and P.B. Shelley. The writings of Thomas Moore ranges from romantic prose to history, from lyrics to satire and also biographies of famous personalities. His popular Irish melodies were published in ten parts between 1807 - 35. Moore was a great musician and a lyricist. The Irish tunes composed by him in the 18th century are popular even today.
Biography of Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore's father was a shoemaker. He was admitted to Trinity College in 1795. At Trinity he became acquainted with members of the United Irish Society. His religious background as a Roman Catholic made him an ardent social worker, working for the national cause. His contacts at Trinity helped him further in his social activities. At Trinity, he was the closest with Robert Emmet, a member of the United Irishmen. Moore was one of the active members of the "Hist" - the Historical Society at Trinity. The Hist was a debating society. For the first time, in Trinity College, Moore came across Edward Bunting's archive of traditional Irish music. Moore's first volume of Irish Melodies was mainly based on Bunting's work.
After his graduation from Trinity, he went to study law in London. He published his first book, Odes of Anacreon, that became a huge success and he spend rest of the year traveling to the United States, Bermuda and the West Indies. He came back to London for regular classes in 1804 and spent rest of his life there. Moore was a gifted performer and his literary creations were a sure success.
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His professional life was full of controversies. He rejected the post of "Irish Poet Laureate" because he felt that he would then have to sacrifice his political career. He wrote and published a biography of Fitzgerald. In spite of being a Catholic, Moore married a Protestant and also raised his children as Protestants. Moore expired on February 25, 1852. His work remained as some of the most prized possessions of Ireland. Moore's Irish Melodies were translated into other European languages like Polish, Hungarian and Russian. In United States alone, over a million copies of The Last Rose of Summer were sold. The works by Thomas Moore promoted Irish music throughout the world.
Selected Works of Thomas Moore
1801 - The poetical works of Thomas Little
1806 - Epistles, Odes and other poems in
1808 - Corruption and Intolerance
1808 - A selection of Iris Melodies
1808- 34 - Irish Melodies, 10 volumes, which includes The Last Rose of Summer
1813 - Intercepted Letters
1817 - Lalla Rookh: an oriental romance
1818 - The Fudge Family in Paris
1823 - The Loves of the Angels
1825 - Memoirs of the Life of Sheridan
1827 - The Episcurean
1835- 40 - The History of Ireland
1831 - Lord Edward Fitzgerald
1925 - Tom Moore's Diary; a selection
1929 - Lyrics and Satires
1971- Lyrics and Satires from Tom Moore
Thomas Moore is considered as Ireland's national poet. His works 'The Last Rose of Summer', 'Believe Me and 'If All Those Endearing Young Charms' have established him as one of the greatest literary figure not only in Ireland, but the whole world.
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