Biographical Essays

Biographical Essays is a collection of essays written by Thomas De Quincey, a renowned English essayist and literary critic. The book features a series of biographical sketches of famous literary figures, including Shakespeare, Milton, and Pope, as well as lesser-known writers such as Robert Southey and William Godwin. De Quincey's essays are characterized by his distinctive style, which combines a deep knowledge of literature with a lively and engaging prose. He provides insightful analyses of the lives and works of his subjects, exploring their literary achievements, personal struggles, and historical contexts. The essays are arranged chronologically, starting with the ancient Greek poet Homer and ending with the contemporary writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge. De Quincey's essays offer a unique perspective on the development of English literature, tracing its evolution from the classical era to the Romantic period. Overall, Biographical Essays is a fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in English literature and the lives of its most influential figures.There is in modern literature a whole class of writers, though not a large one, standing within the same category; some marked originality of character in the writer become a coefficient with what he says to a common result; you must sympathize with this personality in the author before you can appreciate the most significant parts of his views. In most books the writer figures as a mere abstraction, without sex or age or local station, whom the reader banishes from his thoughts. What is written seems to proceed from a blank intellect, not from a man clothed with fleshly peculiarities and differences.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.