Days with Sir Roger de Coverley

by Joseph Addison, Richard Steele

Joseph Addison (1672-1719) was an English essayist, poet and man of letters. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend, Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine. In 1693, he addressed a poem to John Dryden, the former Poet Laureate. His first major work, a book about the lives of English poets, was published in 1694 as well as his translation of Virgil's Georgics. In 1712, Addison wrote his most famous work of fiction, a play entitled Cato, a tragedy, which was based on the last days of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis. His other works include: The De Coverley Papers (1920) and Days with Sir Roger De Coverley (with Richard Steele). Sir Richard Steele (1672-1729) was an Irish writer and politician. His first published work, The Christian Hero (1701), attempted to point out the differences between perceived and actual masculinity. He afterwards became a dramatist, and his comedies, such as The Tender Husband (1703) were met with success.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, School

52 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2006

About the author

English essayist, poet, playwright, and politician.

Reviews

[Gina Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As long as you remember that this is written as a bit of a farce or tongue in cheek it’s somewhat amusing. I’m sure there are a lot more things he was poking fun at than I picked up on but even the ones I did make me snicker. I think the biggest value in reading this comes from the experience of just reading what was popular in the 1700s. The Spectator and The Tattler were very popular in that time and you’ll notice things like this mentioned in Austen’s books and other literature of the times.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes a close look at the behaviors of gentry (and peasants, to a lesser extent) in England during the early 1700s. As is to be expected with older publications, much of the humor /farce was lost on me. What I did focus on was the difference between England and the U.S. during this time period. There was nothing in here that seemed at all comparable to pre Revolutionary colonial states.

The writing style is easy, although dated. For example, p 73:

I am always very well pleased with a country Sunday, and think, if keeping holy the seventh day were only a human institution, it would be the best method that could have been thought of for the polishing and civilizing of mankind. It is certain the country people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages and barbarians were there not such frequent returns of a stated time, in which the whole village meet together with their best faces, and in their cleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon indifferent subjects, hear their duties explained to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme Being. Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week ...

[Ailie Baumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great chuckle and light read. Worth reading in the context it is written. I do like the peak into gentlemanly behavior expected at that time. a lovely window into the life of the wealthy in 1700s