William Hazlitt

Born in Maidstone, Kent, on April 10, 1778, William Hazlitt grew up in the family of a Unitarian minister and was educated for a time with the idea of entering the ministry himself. Instead, he moved toward art, philosophy, and then writing, bringing all three interests into the work that made his name.

Hazlitt became one of the great English essayists and critics of the Romantic age. He wrote about Shakespeare, the theater, politics, painters, and everyday life with unusual directness and feeling, and he was known for strong judgments that could be both brilliant and combative. His essays are often admired for sounding intensely alive on the page, mixing intellect with personality in a way that later readers and writers have continued to value.

Alongside criticism, he also worked as a lecturer, journalist, and portrait painter. He died in London on September 18, 1830, but his reputation endured, especially through collections such as Table-Talk and The Spirit of the Age, which show why he remains such an important and enjoyable writer to read.