The Spirit Of The Age

The Spirit of the Age is a collection of essays written by William Hazlitt, a prominent literary critic and essayist of the 19th century. The book was first published in 1825 and consists of 25 essays that explore the cultural and intellectual climate of the time. In these essays, Hazlitt examines the key figures and movements of his era, including poets, novelists, philosophers, and politicians. He offers insightful and often controversial critiques of their work, and provides a unique perspective on the social and political issues of the time. Some of the notable figures discussed in the book include William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, and Jane Austen. Hazlitt also delves into the political and social issues of the day, such as the French Revolution, the rise of industrialization, and the changing role of women in society.The Spirit of the Age is considered a landmark work of literary criticism, and its influence can be seen in the works of later critics and essayists. Hazlitt's writing is characterized by his wit, insight, and passionate defense of individualism and freedom of thought. Overall, The Spirit of the Age is an important and thought-provoking work that offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and intellectual landscape of the early 19th century.Mr. Gifford has no pretensions to be thought a man of genius, of taste, or even of general knowledge. He merely understands the mechanical and instrumental part of learning. He is a critic of the last age, when the different editions of an author, or the dates of his several performances were all that occupied the inquiries of a profound scholar, and the spirit of the writer or the beauties of his style were left to shift for themselves, or exercise the fancy of the light and superficial reader. In studying an old author, he has no notion of any thing beyond adjusting a point, proposing a different reading, or correcting, by the collation of various copies, an error of the press.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.