Past and Present / Thomas Carlyle's Collected Works, Vol. XIII.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26159

Title

Past and Present / Thomas Carlyle's Collected Works, Vol. XIII.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Thomas Carlyle's seminal 1843 critique of industrial society, *Past and Present* contrasts the spiritual decay of modern England with the moral integrity of the medieval past. Through the fictionalized memoirs of Jocelin of Brakelond and the historical narrative of Abbot Samson, Carlyle argues that the 'Gospel of Mammonism' has enslaved the working class while corrupting the aristocracy. This Library Edition volume offers a profound, prophetic examination of wealth, labor, and the necessity of hero-worship to restore national soul.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Past and Present*, Thomas Carlyle delivers a searing diagnosis of early 19th-century England, describing a nation paradoxically rich in produce yet dying of inanition. The work is structured into four distinct sections. The Proem opens with the myth of Midas to illustrate how modern wealth acts as an enchantment, rendering labor useless and leaving workers destitute despite abundant resources. Carlyle depicts the grim reality of workhouses, where millions sit in torpor, and cites horrific cases of starvation and infanticide as evidence of a society severed from its soul. He contrasts this decay with the 'Gospel of Mammonism,' a false religion that values money over human worth. The second section shifts to the past, utilizing the chronicles of Jocelin of Brakelond to depict St. Edmundsbury in the year 1200. Here, Carlyle presents a world where men possessed 'souls' and lived with a sense of sacred duty. The narrative focuses on Abbot Samson, a figure of immense strength and practical devotion who navigates political turmoil and ecclesiastical corruption. Through Samson, Carlyle explores the concept of the 'Great Man,' arguing that society requires strong, virtuous leaders to guide it through chaos. The third section returns to the present, attacking the 'Unworking Aristocracy' and the 'Working Aristocracy' of industrialists who exploit labor. Carlyle critiques the Corn Laws and the degradation of the worker, asserting that true wealth lies not in gold but in the capacity to do good work and serve humanity. He condemns the rise of a cynical, pleasure-seeking elite. The final section, the Horoscope, offers a bleak but hopeful prognosis. Carlyle warns that without a return to heroic values and a reorganization of society based on justice and duty, England faces catastrophic decline. He calls for a new aristocracy of talent and character to replace the idle and corrupt classes. Ultimately, the book is a passionate plea for moral regeneration, urging society to recognize that work is worship and that the nation's survival depends on restoring its spiritual foundation.

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4.5/5

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Categories

• Social Problems
• Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century