[Iznogood]

Since we're on the subject of riddles in verse, I just remembered a good riddle I recently read in a book. The book is written by a master in riddle-making.
Bonus question: what book and who wrote it.

Those of you who have read the book is of course automatically disqualified to participate!



How called the dwellers of Lyn-dun?
Great Homer's tale of Troy,
Or country of the midnight sun -
What doth all men Destroy?

Against it man hath dashed his foot,
This angel bears a spear!
In garden-glade where Lord Christ preyed
What spawns dark stars and fear?

This place the white Diana rose
Of this, Dido bereft;
Where on four leaves good fortune grows
East, west, south - what is Left?

The Corsican was vanquished there,
Oh, mother of all sin!
Find green the same as shiretown's name,
Find Newgate Gaol, and win!

Edit:
I suggest posting solutions in spoiler-tags since the solution might take some of the fun out of reading the book for those that haven't read it