Latter-Day Pamphlets

work by Carlyle

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June 30, 2026

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The Latter-Day Pamphlets were a series of essays written by Thomas Carlyle and published in 1850. These pamphlets expressed Carlyle's strong, often harsh, opinions on contemporary social and political issues in Britain. He was critical of democracy and advocated for strong leadership, believing that society needed to be guided by heroic figures. Carlyle's views in the Latter-Day Pamphlets were controversial, reflecting his belief that the working classes were being coddled and that traditional social structures were breaking down. The work is characterized by Carlyle's distinctive, forceful prose style.1

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Thomas Carlyle
London
His next important work was Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850), in which the savage side of his nature was particularly prominent. In the essay on model prisons, for instance, he tried to persuade the public that the most brutal and useless sections of the population were being coddled in the new prisons…
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His next important work was Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850), in which the savage side of his nature was particularly prominent. In the essay on model prisons, for instance, he tried to persuade the public that the most brutal and useless sections of the population were being coddled in the new prisons…
Read More