Alfred Tennyson did not publish any poetry for 10 years of his life, and this period of time became known as Tennyson's "Ten Year's Silence."  This period began in 1832, following the publication of his second book of poetry, Poems, which was received very negatively by critics and the public.  Distraught by this unfavorable criticism, he began revising these poems, slowly and meticulously.  However, this silence was not only the result of this criticism, but also the result of the death of his friend, Arthur Hallam.  Hallam's death plunged him into a serious state of depression, which heavily impacted the pacing of his revisions and the content of his writing as well.  Tennyson would not publish until 1842, and the criticism of his second edition of Poems was much more positive and better received by the public.