The Man of Feeling

novel by Mackenzie

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June 30, 2026

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The Man of Feeling is a novel by Scottish writer Henry Mackenzie, published in 1771. It was a significant work in the sentimental novel genre, which was popular in the 18th century.

The novel focuses on the emotional experiences and moral sensibilities of its protagonist, Mr. Harley. It explores themes of compassion, sympathy, and the importance of feeling over reason, reflecting the literary trends of the time that emphasized emotional depth and sensitivity. Mackenzie's work was influential, particularly on later writers like Sir Walter Scott.

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English literature
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emphatic contrast, Henry Mackenzie’s The Man of Feeling (1771) offers an extremist and rarefied version of the sentimental hero, while Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1765) playfully initiated the vogue for Gothic fiction. William Beckford’s Vathek (1786), Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794), and
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emphatic contrast, Henry Mackenzie’s The Man of Feeling (1771) offers an extremist and rarefied version of the sentimental hero, while Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1765) playfully initiated the vogue for Gothic fiction. William Beckford’s Vathek (1786), Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794), and
Read More