Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 54, No. 334, August 1843

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25065

Title

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 54, No. 334, August 1843

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer offers a literary critique of Schiller's poetry, tracing his evolution from wild youth to serene maturity. The text also features a humorous narrative of Oxford undergraduates on a 'Reading Party' in North Wales, blending classical study with rustic adventure and romantic encounters.

Summary up to 500 words

In this August 1843 selection from Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer offers a profound critique of Friedrich Schiller's poetic evolution. Bulwer argues that while Schiller's dramatic works are often hampered by an intense, self-conscious earnestness, his poetry reveals a superior variety of genius, successfully blending intellect with imagination. The essay traces Schiller's trajectory from the fiery, revolutionary spirit of his youth, exemplified in 'The Robbers,' to the serene philosophical depth of his maturity. Bulwer highlights the melancholy of Schiller's middle period, characterized by a struggle between virtue and a rewardless world, before culminating in the joyful, Christian faith of his final works, such as the 'Hymn to Joy.' The volume also features the satirical narrative 'A Reading Party in the Long Vacation.' This story follows a group of Oxford undergraduates who embark on a journey to North Wales to cram for their examinations. Bulwer captures the absurdity of their 'joint-stock cramming company' and their interactions with local Welsh life. Through witty dialogue and vivid descriptions of their travels by coach and boat, the narrative contrasts the rigors of academic life with the simple pleasures of nature. The story culminates in the narrator's romantic awakening upon meeting Clara Phillips, a character described as beautiful, free from coquetry, and possessing an unaffected buoyancy of spirits. Her presence transforms the atmosphere of the party, offering a transformative experience that celebrates the power of both poetry and human connection over the sterile pursuit of academic honors.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25065.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25065.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-06 10:47 UTC

Categories

• History
• Periodicals