Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was the lyric spokesman of the Victorian era, serving as England's poet laureate for more than 40 years. Although Levi ( The Life and Times of William Shakespeare ) has carefully researched his subject, his great admiration for Tennyson's work interferes with critical analysis. Tennyson wrote poetry in his teens and became well-known after his two-volume Poems (1842), which included ``Morte d'Arthur'' and ``Ulysses,'' was published. He wrote his highly acclaimed elegy ``In Memoriam'' in 1850 and ``The Charge of the Light Brigade'' in 1854. At 41, he married his longtime love, Emily Sellwood, and the couple raised two children. Levi has peppered his text with opinion and asides that at times enliven the book but on occasion strike a discordant note. Of interest to Tennyson devotees and serious students of literature. Photos. (Jan.)