The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 10 (of 12)

Volume ten of this twelve‑part series gathers some of William Hazlitt’s most incisive pieces originally published in the Edinburgh Review. The collection swings from sweeping surveys of European literature to intimate portraits of artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, while also probing the role of the periodical press and the burgeoning American literary scene. Hazlitt’s essays blend sharp criticism with a conversational tone, making the lofty debates of early‑nineteenth‑century letters feel immediate and relevant.

In the opening essay, “Dunlop’s History of Fiction,” Hazlitt argues that the true joy of a winter’s evening lies in the imagined struggles of fictional heroes, and he traces how storytelling evolves from heroic song to the sophisticated novel. His observations on the tension between factual history and imaginative exaggeration reveal a keen awareness of how cultures shape their narratives. Listeners will be drawn into his thoughtful, often witty examinations that still resonate with today’s readers.