John Lyly

John Lyly (c. 1553–1606) was an English playwright and prose writer of the Elizabethan era. Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, he became famous for the prose romance *Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit* (1578) and its sequel, works that popularized an ornate, balanced style later called “euphuism.” Lyly also wrote court comedies for performance before Queen Elizabeth I, including *Campaspe*, *Sapho and Phao*, *Gallathea*, and *Endymion*. His plays, blending classical myth, allegory, and witty dialogue, helped shape early English comedy. Lyly served as a Member of Parliament and sought, unsuccessfully, the post of Master of the Revels.