Brooke, Henry

Brooke, Henry,

c.1703–1783, Irish author. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he studied law in London before returning to Ireland permanently. In 1735 he published his long philosophical poem, Universal Beauty. His discursive novel, The Fool of Quality (5 vol., 1767–70), which was inspired by the theories of Rousseau, reveals Brooke's acute awareness of the political and social situation of his day.