Two critical editions of Thomas Carlyle's works, each published in 2020, demonstrate the enduring impact of the Victorian sage. In an era of unrelenting polarization, it is more vital than ever to appreciate the diverse perspectives of a writer who resisted political demarcation with such eloquent fury. Indeed, Carlyle is arguably the most complex figure of the nineteenth century, misunderstood both casually and intentionally. His writing is seemingly constructed from contradictions—champion of the working class, but faithful to the monarchy, suspicious of technological progress, but defender of imperial violence. These two critical editions recover and restore crucial example of Carlyle's early work, emphasizing the development of a voice that, following The French Revolution (1837), pierced seemingly every debate of the Victorian period.
The editors of both texts deftly underscore Carlyle's complex thought, but they also show a writer who was keenly aware of establishing his career, cannily choosing projects that...
