London's cries: An anthology of British essays

Author: (British) Aqiusheng et al. (Translated by Liu Bingshan)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: From the immortal prose works of Britain, this book selects thirty-one pieces, written by fourteen authors from the 18th to 20th centuries. It prominently reflects the unique calm and rich sentiments of the authors, as well as the humorous yet slightly satirical context. The title is inspired by a 18th-century essay by Addison, which vividly depicts the urban scenes and folk customs of the time, such as selling newspapers and pastries, and the fire brigade. The book features 19th-century representative writer Charles Lamb, whose works record his discovery of a bittersweet joy and imagination as a busy office clerk. It also includes works by Virginia Woolf, who pioneered stream-of-consciousness novels while writing with a light and playful prose style, expressing her deep love and impressions of literature, becoming a unique gem in 20th-century British prose. This book selects famous British essays from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The reason for this selection is that, apart from Bacon’s philosophical short essays, British essays only developed fully after the 18th century, leaving behind a wealth of memorable works worthy of appreciation, observation, and comparison. Below, take Addison, Lamb, and Virginia Woolf as examples to illustrate the different characteristics of British essays in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.