Hazlitt is one of the greatest masters of English prose style and this new selection demonstrates the variety and richness of his writing. The volume includes classic pieces of drama and literature criticism, such as his essays on Shakespeare and Coleridge, as well as less well-known material from his social and political journalism. This collection encourages the reader to reconsider the nature of critical writing, which Hazlitt transforms into an art form.
William Hazlitt (1778-1830) was a prolific journalist, parliamentary reporter, dramatic and literary critic, essayist and lecturer. He was the one of the first English writers to make a profession of descriptive criticism. Tom Paulin is a poet and teaches English at Hertford College, Oxford. His recent biography of Hazlitt (Faber) was published to critical acclaim. David Chandler is a Research Fellow in English at Christ Church, Oxford.
