Chapter Carew to Carlyle of C by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

but utterly unconventional, and often whimsical or explosive. He had in a high degree the poetic and imaginative faculty, and also irresistible humour, pungent sarcasm, insight, tenderness, and fierce indignation.

All the works of Carlyle shed light on his personality, but Sartor Resartus especially may be regarded as autobiographical. Froude’s Thomas Carlyle...First 40 Years of his Life (1882), Thomas Carlyle ...His Life in London, by the same (1884), Letters and Memories of Jane Welsh Carlyle (1883), various Lives and Reminiscences by Professor Masson and Nichol, etc.

Summary.—Born 1795, educated Edinburgh, studies for Church but gives it up, tries law, then tutor, takes to literature and writes for encyclopædias and magazines, and translates, married 1826 Jane Welsh, settles in Edinburgh, writes essays in Edinburgh Review, goes to Craigenputtock 1828, writes Sartor and corresponds with Goethe, Sartor appears in Fraser’s Magazine 1833-4, settles in London 1834, published French Revolution 1837, lectures, published Heroes, and Chartism and Sartor as a book 1839, Past and Present 1843, Oliver Cromwell 1845, Latter Day Pamphlets 1850, writes Frederick the Great 1851-65, Lord Rector of Edinburgh University 1865, Mrs. Carlyle died 1865, writes Reminiscences 1866 (published 1881), died 1881.