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Henry Austin Dobson (1840-1921) was an eminent English poet and essayist known for his love for the 18th century literature and culture. Born in Plymouth, England, his literary career spanned the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras, where he played a significant role in the revival of interest in the Rococo period. Dobson's works often mirrored the graceful and witty style characteristic of the period that inspired him, and he was adept at the use of classical forms of verse, particularly the French forms that had fallen into neglect with English writers. Among his diverse literary contributions, 'A Paladin of Philanthropy and Other Papers' stands out as an exemplary work of essays. This collection showcased Dobson's scholarship and his ability to render historical sketches with both charm and insight. His prose, like his poetry, was marked by an elegance and clarity which often reflected on themes of art, society, and biography. Dobson's biographical works, in particular, have been noted for their sympathetic treatment of their subjects and attention to the personal detail that brought historical figures to life for his readers. His legacy is that of a refined craftsman in both his chosen genres of essay and verse, with his body of work remaining a valuable source of scholarship on the literary and cultural sensibilities of his time.