History of English Literature Volume 1 (of 3)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

61308

Title

History of English Literature Volume 1 (of 3)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Hippolyte Taine's seminal work offers a groundbreaking, concrete approach to English literature, moving beyond dry biographical facts to reveal the living souls behind the texts. This volume explores Shakespeare's early life and tragic characters, contrasting bold English women with French sensibilities to illuminate the national character.

Summary up to 500 words

In this revised edition of his classic study, French critic Hippolyte Taine revolutionizes the understanding of English literature by applying a rigorous 'laboratory method' to criticism. Rejecting abstract generalities, Taine immerses the reader in the physical, social, and moral environments of the writers he discusses, arguing that genuine history emerges only when the historian unravels the 'living man' behind the text. The volume opens with a vivid reconstruction of Shakespeare's youth, depicting his poaching incident before Sir Thomas Lucy and analyzing the specific psychology of the 'living man' behind the genius. Taine then turns to Shakespeare's dramatic universe, dissecting the 'tragic population' of villains like Iago and Richard III. He portrays these figures as driven by violent wills and accumulated passion, contrasting them with a distinctively English type of female character: sweet, timid, and devoted to duty, obedience, and self-abandonment for the sake of a chosen love. Taine argues this trait is unique to the English race compared to the French. Throughout the text, he evaluates major figures such as Milton, Webster, and the Puritans, often through a Gallic lens that highlights cultural differences in morality and religion. He illustrates his method by comparing the barren, abstract treatments of earlier critics with his own concrete approach, which traces the physical and moral environment of authors like Addison to reveal their true characters. The text serves as both a historical record and a methodological guide, demonstrating how to study literature scientifically by focusing on the concrete realities of the author's life and the specific psychology of the characters they created. By examining the 'sticky plaster' of English morality versus French sensibilities, Taine provides a comprehensive analysis that transforms the reader's perception of the literature, proving that the style is the man and that true criticism requires studying the thing itself in all its manifestations.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Literature