The Present Time - Imperium Press (Studies in Reaction) - Carlyle, Thomas

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Résumé :
In The Present Time, Carlyle takes aim at modernity. This essay was, even in its time, seen as so blistering that the Southern Literary Messenger described its contents as purely monstrous, and the most elaborate argument would not place their monstrosity more clearly before the reader, than the simple enunciation of them. We present it here with another of Carlyle's essays. Carlyle influenced not only fascism but socialism, and in The Modern Worker he grants the worker his essential nobility and savagely critiques laissez-faire economics. He folds his anti-capitalism into the critique of modernity given in The Present Time-whatever system man places himself under, it must conform to a set of conditions already voted for, and fixed with adamantine rigour by the ancient Elemental Powers. As Carlyle is known for coinages and obscure references, this volume offers a comprehensive glossary of terms. For many readers, this will be the first time they have fully grasped this titanic intellect.

Biographie:
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopher who lived from 4 December 1795 to 5 February 1881. Carlyle learned to read from his mother, and arithmetic from his father. Carlyle travelled 100 miles from his home in November 1809, when he was about 14 years old, to attend the University of Edinburgh. John Leslie taught him mathematics, and John Playfair taught him science. He finished his studies in the arts in 1813 and enrolled in a theology study. In addition to founding the London Library, he made a substantial contribution to the National Portrait Galleries' establishment. Victorian literature was significantly affected by Carlyle's inventive writing style. He proposed the Great Man theory, a historical theory that holds that notable people have affected history. His noble Chivalry of Work political theory is characterised by medievalism. Carlyle heard abruptly of his wife's unexpected death while still in Scotland. He wrote memoirs of William Wordsworth, Robert Southey, Irving, and Jeffrey.His niece Mary, who served as his amanuensis, overheard him say his last words: So this is Death-well.