Isaac Bickerstaff, Physician and Astrologer

Step into the lively world of early 18th‑century London through the eyes of Isaac Bickerstaff, a witty physician‑astrologer who dispenses advice from his modest lodgings on Shire Lane. Conceived by Richard Steele for his popular periodical, the Tatler, Bickerstaff serves as a steady voice that threads together a series of lively sketches, each one a snapshot of everyday folly and virtue. The essays blend gentle satire with genuine concern, offering readers a glimpse of the era’s social rituals, superstitions, and emerging ideas of respectability.

From the comic misadventures of a love‑struck youth to the heartfelt counsel on marriage and the perils of false doctors, the collection covers a wide range of human experience. Steele’s prose is clear and conversational, peppered with the occasional bawdy joke yet always aimed at uplifting manners and honoring domestic life. Listeners will enjoy the charm of a character who balances humor with moral reflection, making the past feel surprisingly relevant today.