Thomas Holcroft Criticism
Thomas Holcroft (1745–1809) was a multifaceted English writer, known as a novelist, playwright, translator, and critic associated with the Jacobin movement. Renowned for his political reformism, he was a contemporary of William Godwin and played a significant role in the publication of Thomas Paine's Rights of Man. Twentieth-century critics have shifted focus from Holcroft's political writings to his literary contributions, where he is recognized for experimenting with content and form to educate the public. His works often contained strong moral messages, advocating social and political reform, as noted in Colby's comprehensive overview and biographical insights.
Holcroft's literary achievements include the novels Anna St. Ives and The Adventures of Hugh Trevor, and the play The Road to Ruin. His novels are recognized for their moral and social critique, often drawing on influences like Samuel Richardson's Clarissa and Henry Fielding's Tom Jones. Holcroft also introduced the melodrama to England. Despite early criticism and struggles post his treason trial, which damaged his reputation, Holcroft's later recognition owes much to efforts like those of Stallbaumer, who highlighted his satirical prowess, and Rosenblum, who emphasized his experimental contributions to the novel.
His life, marked by personal and financial struggles, including a nomadic childhood and later persecution for his political beliefs, is chronicled in various scholarly works. He was an advocate for social justice, as seen in his moral narratives that critiqued the societal and political norms of his time. Despite mixed critical reception during his lifetime, modern scholarship often acknowledges Holcroft's influence on literature, with particular praise for his realistic depiction of the lower classes and his satirical edge, as articulated in Teissedou's examination of his radical views and Zall's career summary.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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An introduction to A Bibliography of Thomas Holcroft
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Colby provides an overview of Holcroft's writings, supplementing Hazlitt's biography with newly available information.
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An introduction to The Life of Thomas Holcroft
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Colby surveys Holcroft's life and works.
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Thomas Holcroft: A Satirist in the Stream of Sentimentalism
(summary)
In the following essay, which originally appeared in the March 1936 issue of ELH: A Journal of English Literary History, Stallbaumer traces Holcroft's development as a dramatist, outlining the way in which he was shaped by the popular demand for sentimentality.
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Holcroft: A Radical Novelist
(summary)
In the essay below, Teissedou notes evidence of Holcroft's revolutionary activities and views in his life and works.
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The Cool World of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Thomas Holcroft, Hyperhack
(summary)
In the following essay, Zall summarizes Holcroft's career, highlighting his high level of productivity and many hardships.
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The Novelist
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Rosenblum traces the development of Holcroft as a novelist and argues that he deserves recognition for his experimental work in the novel, particularly in Anna St. Ives, Hugh Trevor, and parts of Bryan Perdue.
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An introduction to A Bibliography of Thomas Holcroft
(summary)
- Further Reading