Studies in Literature

This collection assembles a series of essays first published in late‑19th‑century periodicals, now presented as a unified listening experience. The author surveys the shifting landscape of English literature, from the neoclassical voices of Pope and Johnson to the Romantic surge of Wordsworth, Coleridge, and their peers. The prose is clear and measured, guiding listeners through literary history without requiring specialist knowledge.

The centerpiece is a detailed study of William Wordsworth, set against the dramatic social and political changes of his era—from the American Revolution to England’s industrial expansion. By placing the poet among contemporaries such as Scott, Byron, Shelley, and even Blake, the essay reveals his selective admiration and the tensions between rural idealism and a rapidly modernising world. The collection also includes brief but insightful pieces on other major figures, offering a balanced view that is both scholarly and accessible.