Thomas Carlyle's historical narrative was published almost two centuries ago, yet it remains relevant and in demand. There are two reasons for this. As the definitive account of its time, it has arguably done more to frame the story for Anglo-Saxon audiences than any subsequent publication. It also is as engaging and colorful as a history book can be.
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era. He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.
Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was expected by his parents to become a preacher, but while at the University of Edinburgh, he lost his Christian faith. Calvinist values, however, remained with him throughout his life. This combination of a religious temperament with loss of faith in traditional Christianity made Carlyle's work appealing to many Victorians who were grappling with scientific and political changes that threatened the traditional social order.
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