Essays in English Literature, 1780-1860

This volume gathers a series of thoughtful essays that examine some of the most influential yet often overlooked English writers and critics from the early nineteenth century. Originally printed in respected periodicals of the time, the pieces have been carefully re‑edited to restore lost passages and clarify language, offering a fresh listening experience. Readers will encounter balanced portraits of figures such as Crabbe, Hogg, Sydney Smith, Hazlitt and their contemporaries, each positioned alongside the major Romantic giants.

The opening essay, “The Kinds of Criticism,” sets the tone by probing the relationship between reviewer and author, and by arguing for a middle path that values both rigor and warmth. Subsequent chapters follow a chronological order based on the writers’ birth years, allowing listeners to trace the evolving critical methods of the period. Brief appendices provide modern commentary on the works of De Quincey and Lockhart, enriching the historical perspective without spoiling later developments.