
audiobook
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
This volume offers a vivid, illustrated tour of one of England’s most celebrated painters, pairing faithful facsimile reproductions of his plates with lively commentary that brings each scene into everyday context. Compiled by two seasoned scholars, the text weaves together detailed descriptions, biographical sketches, and anecdotal tidbits that reveal the artist’s personality and the stories behind his work, all while preserving the original humor and moral edge that made his prints so popular.
The collection spans a broad spectrum of his output—from early self‑portraits and whimsical studies of his dog, to the morally charged narratives of The Harlot’s Progress and The Rake’s Progress, and bustling street scenes such as Southwark Fair and the Four Times of the Day. Each plate is accompanied by notes that explain the historical background, symbolism, and the social commentary embedded in the imagery, with longer footnotes gathered at the end for deeper exploration.
Ideal for listeners who love art history and vivid storytelling, the audiobook guides you through Hogarth’s world, letting you picture the bustling 18th‑century streets, the follies of his characters, and the sharp eye of a painter who never shied away from exposing the vices and virtues of his time.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (314K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2016-04-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

d. 1808
An 18th-century British writer best remembered for bringing William Hogarth’s life and art to a wider audience, he moved from trade into bookselling and literary work. His story links provincial Shropshire beginnings with London’s lively world of print, biography, and art criticism.
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1745–1826
A central figure in London’s literary world, this 18th-century printer and antiquary helped preserve the voices and stories of his age. He is especially remembered for editing the Gentleman's Magazine and for compiling rich biographical and historical works that later readers still rely on.
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