The Spirit of the Age: Or Contemporary Portraits

Originally published in 1846, this American edition of William Hazlitt’s early work is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. It comprises a collection of portraits of the author’s contemporaries, friends and people that he particularly admired. The collection includes poets, authors, politicians and journalists as well as preachers and philosophers. Hazlitt uses razor sharp wit to both celebrate and criticise the subjects of his portraits. This is an unusual book whose 273 pages contain a wealth of information, anecdote and cutting humour that is a fascinating read today. Contents: Jeremy Bentham, William Godwin, Mr. Coleridge, Rev. Mr. Irving, The late Mr. Horne Tooke, Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron, Mr. Southey, Mr. Wordsworth, Sir James Macintosh, Mr. Malthus, Mr. Gifford, Mr. Jeffrey, Mr. Brougham-Sir F. Burdett, Lord Eldon-Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Campbell-Mr. Crabbe, Mr. T. Moore-Mr. Leigh Hunt, Elia-Geoffrey Crayon. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.