18th-Century Literary Masters: Defoe, Fielding, Steele, and Addison

18th-Century Literary Masters: Journalism and the Novel

The Age of Reason and the Birth of Modern Journalism

The early 18th century, often called the Age of Reason, saw a significant shift in literary focus, marked by the rise of periodical essays and modern journalism, shaping public opinion and morality. The following figures were instrumental in this development:

Richard Steele

• Biography: Born in Dublin. He studied at Oxford University but did not finish his degree, subsequently entering the army.
• Personality & Style: Known for being impulsive and moralistic. His writing style was informal and intimate.
• Key Role: His most important role was in the periodical The Tatler.
• Major Works: The Christian Hero, The Funeral, and other comedies.
• Journalism: Founded The Guardian.

Joseph Addison

• Biography: A prominent classical scholar at Oxford. He was reserved and judicious. He traveled extensively on the continent.
• Political Career: He had a significant political career, serving as Under-Secretary of State and eventually Prime Minister until his death. He was a close friend of Jonathan Swift.
• Works & Contributions: Wrote comedies, Latin poems, and influential essays on John Milton, literature, politics, and philosophy.
• Journalism: Contributed to The Freeholder.

The Rise of the English Novel

This period witnessed the emergence of the novel as a dominant literary form, characterized by realistic depictions of everyday life and detailed character development.

Daniel Defoe: Pioneer of the English Novel

• Biography: Born in London. He began writing novels late in life, around the age of 59.
• Career: Defoe was a versatile figure: a businessman, politician, and even a spy monitoring the Scottish reaction to the Act of Union.
• Writing Style: He pioneered the English novel, often using the first-person narrative form, imitating journalism or confessional memoirs. He described everyday life in England with vivid realism, comparable to a Hogarth painting.
• Other Writings: Wrote polemic pamphlets, his own biography, history, and travel books.
• Journalism: Founded The Review, a thrice-weekly newspaper.
• Major Novels: Robinson Crusoe, The Adventures of Captain Singleton.

Henry Fielding: Satire and Psychological Realism

• Biography: Born into an aristocratic family. He studied Law at Eton and London.
• Early Career: Started as a playwright, writing anti-government satires (around 25 plays).
• Later Career: Served as a magistrate, journalist, and novelist. He died in Lisbon.
• Literary Mastery: He mastered the mock-heroic style and irony. His basic principles—honour and behaviour—were applied universally, challenging rigid social conventions.
• Style and Critique: His style is elegant, utilizing psychological realism to criticize social corruption and hypocrisy.
• Dramatic Technique: On stage, he demonstrated a sense of symmetry, employed idiomatic speech and dialogue, and was an expert in literary parody.
• Major Novels: Joseph Andrews, Tom Jones.
• Travel Book: The Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon.

Lawrence Sterne

Lawrence Sterne is another key figure in the development of the novel during this era, known for his experimental narrative techniques.