De Quincey: English Men Of Letters

by David Masson

De English Men Of Letters is a biographical book written by David Masson about the life and works of Thomas De Quincey, a prominent English writer and essayist of the 19th century. The book explores De Quincey's early life, his struggles with addiction, and his literary career, including his famous work Confessions of an English Opium-Eater. Masson delves into De Quincey's personal life, as well as his relationships with other literary figures of the time, such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The book also examines De Quincey's influence on the Romantic literary movement and his contribution to the development of the essay as a literary genre. Overall, De English Men Of Letters provides a comprehensive account of the life and legacy of one of the most significant writers of the 19th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Biography

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2003

About the author

Professor David Mather Masson FRSE RSA LLD DLitt was a Scottish academic, supporter of women's suffrage, literary critic and historian.

Masson was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen. Intending to enter the Church, he proceeded to Edinburgh University, where he studied theology under Dr. Thomas Chalmers, with whom he remained friendly until the latter's death in 1847. However, abandoning his aspirations to the ministry, be returned to Aberdeen to undertake the editorship of the Banner, a weekly paper devoted to the advocacy of Free Kirk principles. After two years he resigned this post and went back to Edinburgh to pursue a literary career. There he wrote a great deal, contributing to Fraser's Magazine, Dublin University Magazine (in which appeared his essays on Thomas Chatterton) and other periodicals. In 1847 he moved to London.

He was a secretary of the "Society of the Friends of Italy" (1851 - 1852). In an interview with Elizabeth Barrett Browning at Florence, he contested her admiration for Napoleon III. He had known Thomas de Quincey, whose biography he contributed in 1878 to the "English Men of Letters" series, and he was a friend and admirer of Thomas Carlyle. In 1852 he was appointed a professor of English literature at University College, London, and for some years from 1858, he edited the newly established Macmillan's Magazine. In 1865 he was appointed to the chair of rhetoric and English literature at Edinburgh, and during the early years of his professorship actively promoted the movement for the university education of women. He also supported his wife Emily Rosaline Orme and two of their daughters in the women's suffrage movement, speaking at events in Edinburgh and London. In 1879 he became editor of the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, and in 1886 gave the Rhind Lectures on that subject. In 1893 he was appointed Historiographer Royal for Scotland. Two years later he resigned his professorship. In 1896 he was President of the Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club and gave the Toast to Sir Walter at the club's annual dinner. By 1900 he was Chairman of the Scottish History Society.