Thomas Miller (31 August 1807 – 24 October 1874) was an English poet and novelist who explored rural subjects. He was one of the most prolific English working-class writers of the 19th century and produced in all over 45 volumes,[1] including some "penny dreadfuls" on urban crime.
Miller was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire,[2] the son of George Miller, an unsuccessful wharfinger and ship-owner, who deserted his wife and two sons in 1810. Thomas grew up in Sailors Alley, Gainsborough. His childhood friends included the future poet and journalist Thomas Cooper. He attended the White Hart Charity School. Although he left school at nine, he became a voracious reader. His love of the countryside was reinforced by summers spent on his grandfather's farm.[3]
Miller found work as a ploughboy, then as a shoemaker's apprentice, but he was released from his indentures after he threw "an iron instrument" at his vicious and tyrannical master. He was then apprenticed as a basket-maker to his stepfather.
When Miller had completed his apprenticeship, he moved to Nottingham in 1831 to set up a basket-making business.[4] There he published his first writings, Songs of the Sea Nymphs (1832), which he dedicated to Lady Blessington.[5]Godfrey Malvern (1842) has been called "his most interesting novel... telling the story of a poor schoolmaster who enters the London literary world."[6]
Plaque at 58 Bridge Street, Gainsborough, opposite Thomas Miller's birthplace at Sailors Alley Yard (which no longer exists)
London poverty
After moving to London he was befriended by Lady Blessington and by Samuel Rogers, and for a time engaged in business as a bookseller, but was unsuccessful and then devoted himself exclusively to literature, producing over 45 volumes, including novels, in which he successfully delineated rural characters and scenes. Among them were Royston Gower (1838), Gideon Giles the Roper, Rural Sketches and Pictures of Country Life, illustrated by Samuel Williams.[7] He contributed a series to the run of "penny dreadfuls" entitled The Mysteries of London, which depict urban crime.[5]
Although Miller attracted some patronage and some sums from the Royal Literary Fund,[8] he was often in financial need. He appealed directly to Charles Dickens for assistance in 1851, but Dickens declined and wrote to his friend Bulwer Lytton, "I fear he [Miller] has mistaken his vocation."
Miller had a wife and four children: Henry, George, Emma and Ellen. He died of a stroke at his home at 24 New Street, Kensington, on 24 October 1874 and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery.[9] He was survived by one of his sons and his two spinster daughters.[5]
Evening (The Poem)
The day is past, the sun is set, And the white stars are in the sky; While the long grass with dew is wet, And through the air the bats now fly.
The lambs have now lain down to sleep, The birds have long since sought their nests; The air is still; and dark, and deep On the hill side the old wood rests.
Yet of the dark I have no fear, But feel as safe as when 'tis light; For I know God is with me there, And He will guard me through the night.
For God is by me when I pray, And when I close mine eyes to sleep, I know that He will with me stay, And will all night watch by me keep.
For He who rules the stars and sea, Who makes the grass and trees to grow. Will look on a poor child like me, When on my knees I to Him bow.
He holds all things in His right hand, The rich, the poor, the great, the small; When we sleep, or sit, or stand, He is with us, for He loves us all.
References
"Miller, Thomas". In: British Authors of the Nineteenth Century (New York: H. C. Wilson Company, 1936).
^XIX Century Fiction, Part II, L–Z, Jarndyce (London), 2020.
^ODNB entry; bookseller's catalogue: English Literature 1801–1850 from the Collection of James Stephen Cox. List 51 (Wallingford: Christopher Edwards, [2012]), p. 66.
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For other people named Thomas Miller see Thomas Miller disambiguation Thomas Miller 31 August 1807 24 October 1874 was an English poet and novelist who explored rural subjects He was one of the most prolific English working class writers of the 19th century and produced in all over 45 volumes 1 including some penny dreadfuls on urban crime Contents 1 Early life 2 London poverty 3 Evening The Poem 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditMiller was born in Gainsborough Lincolnshire 2 the son of George Miller an unsuccessful wharfinger and ship owner who deserted his wife and two sons in 1810 Thomas grew up in Sailors Alley Gainsborough His childhood friends included the future poet and journalist Thomas Cooper He attended the White Hart Charity School Although he left school at nine he became a voracious reader His love of the countryside was reinforced by summers spent on his grandfather s farm 3 Miller found work as a ploughboy then as a shoemaker s apprentice but he was released from his indentures after he threw an iron instrument at his vicious and tyrannical master He was then apprenticed as a basket maker to his stepfather When Miller had completed his apprenticeship he moved to Nottingham in 1831 to set up a basket making business 4 There he published his first writings Songs of the Sea Nymphs 1832 which he dedicated to Lady Blessington 5 Godfrey Malvern 1842 has been called his most interesting novel telling the story of a poor schoolmaster who enters the London literary world 6 Plaque at 58 Bridge Street Gainsborough opposite Thomas Miller s birthplace at Sailors Alley Yard which no longer exists London poverty EditAfter moving to London he was befriended by Lady Blessington and by Samuel Rogers and for a time engaged in business as a bookseller but was unsuccessful and then devoted himself exclusively to literature producing over 45 volumes including novels in which he successfully delineated rural characters and scenes Among them were Royston Gower 1838 Gideon Giles the Roper Rural Sketches and Pictures of Country Life illustrated by Samuel Williams 7 He contributed a series to the run of penny dreadfuls entitled The Mysteries of London which depict urban crime 5 Although Miller attracted some patronage and some sums from the Royal Literary Fund 8 he was often in financial need He appealed directly to Charles Dickens for assistance in 1851 but Dickens declined and wrote to his friend Bulwer Lytton I fear he Miller has mistaken his vocation Miller had a wife and four children Henry George Emma and Ellen He died of a stroke at his home at 24 New Street Kensington on 24 October 1874 and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery 9 He was survived by one of his sons and his two spinster daughters 5 Evening The Poem EditThe day is past the sun is set And the white stars are in the sky While the long grass with dew is wet And through the air the bats now fly The lambs have now lain down to sleep The birds have long since sought their nests The air is still and dark and deep On the hill side the old wood rests Yet of the dark I have no fear But feel as safe as when tis light For I know God is with me there And He will guard me through the night For God is by me when I pray And when I close mine eyes to sleep I know that He will with me stay And will all night watch by me keep For He who rules the stars and sea Who makes the grass and trees to grow Will look on a poor child like me When on my knees I to Him bow He holds all things in His right hand The rich the poor the great the small When we sleep or sit or stand He is with us for He loves us all References Edit Miller Thomas In British Authors of the Nineteenth Century New York H C Wilson Company 1936 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Cousin John William 1910 A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature London J M Dent amp Sons via Wikisource Owen Ashton and Stephen Roberts The Victorian Working class Writer Cassell 1999 p 42 Retrieved 2 April 2021 Plaque erected near his birthplace ODNB entry by Louis James Retrieved 23 June 2012 Pay walled Ian S Beckwith The Book of Gainsborough 1988 ISBN 0860232697 a b c ODNB entry XIX Century Fiction Part II L Z Jarndyce London 2020 ODNB entry bookseller s catalogue English Literature 1801 1850 from the Collection of James Stephen Cox List 51 Wallingford Christopher Edwards 2012 p 66 English Literature West Norwood Cemetery Dickens Connections Friends of West Norwood Cemetery 1 1995External links EditWorks by Thomas Miller at Project Gutenberg Thomas Miller 1852 Picturesque sketches of London past and present From Internet Archive Works by Thomas Miller at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Miller Thomas 1807 1874 at Dictionary of National Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Miller poet amp oldid 1135591406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
