Thomas Hood

Thomas Hood (1799–1845) was an English poet, humorist, and journalist whose work bridged late Romanticism and the early Victorian period. Born in London, he trained as an engraver before turning to writing and editing. Hood became widely known for his wit in periodicals and for popular comic verse, yet he also wrote powerful poems of social protest. “The Song of the Shirt” (1843) exposed the hardships of seamstresses and helped make his reputation as a compassionate satirist. Another celebrated poem, “The Bridge of Sighs” (1844), treats poverty and suicide with striking pathos. He died in London in 1845.