William Hazlitt - Icon Profile | Alexandria
William Hazlitt (1778-1830) stands as one of English literature's most formidable essayists and critics, whose penetrating insights and impassioned prose helped define the Romantic era's intellectual landscape. Known for his fierce independence of mind and uncompromising honesty, Hazlitt emerged as a literary lion in an age of revolutions, both political and artistic.
Born in Maidstone, Kent, to a Unitarian minister, Hazlitt's early life was shaped by his father's dissenting principles and the radical political atmosphere of the late 18th century. His family's move to America in his youth, though brief, exposed him to democratic ideals that would influence his later political writings. Upon returning to England, he encountered Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798, a meeting that would prove transformative, igniting his literary ambitions and philosophical inquiries.
Hazlitt's career spanned journalism, philosophical treatises, art criticism, and literary essays, producing works that still resonate with startling modernity. His most celebrated works, including "The Spirit of the Age" (1825) and "Table-Talk" (1821-22), reveal an intellect equally at home discussing the nuances of Shakespeare's characters or the political turbulence of his time. His essay "On the Pleasure of Hating" demonstrates his psychological acuity and unflinching examination of human nature, while "Liber Amoris" (1823), a controversial account of his ill-fated love for Sarah Walker, showcases his emotional vulnerability and artistic daring.
Today, Hazlitt's legacy extends beyond his considerable literary achievements. His advocacy for democratic principles, his championing of artistic authenticity over artifice, and his belief in the power of individual perception continue to influence contemporary thought. His writing style, combining philosophical depth with conversational intimacy, established a template for modern essay writing. Perhaps most intriguingly, Hazlitt's works present an enduring challenge to readers: how to maintain intellectual honesty and emotional authenticity in an age of competing ideologies and social pressures. In an era of careful personal branding and curated public personas, Hazlitt's fierce commitment to truth-telling, regardless of personal cost, offers a compelling model for contemporary writers and thinkers.