English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century

"English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century" by Leslie Stephen is a pioneering work in the sociological study of literature. The 18th century in English literature was marked by a significant growth in political literature following the end of state censorship. This era saw the rise of journalism, with publications like Daniel Defoe's Review and the influential The Tatler and The Spectator by Richard Steele and Joseph Addison. These periodicals explored a wide range of topics, from politics to social relations, and helped shape public discourse.12

The century also embraced both reason and passion in its literary output. Reason fostered satire, argument, and wit, exemplified by writers like Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Simultaneously, the cultivation of feelings inspired the psychological novel and poetry of the sublime. The novel became a prominent art form through the realistic works of Henry Fielding and Daniel Defoe, as well as the psychological depth of Samuel Richardson and Laurence Sterne.3