JOSEPH ADDISON

Joseph Addison was born in 1672, in London. He was an English essayst, poet and dramatist and his talent became so popular that he got a high position in Government while the Whings were in power.

He was enrolled at age 14 in the Charterhouse in London and afterwards he studied in Oxford.

He can be considered as the “father of the British journalism”. In fact, he’s the founder of the journal “The Spectator” and “The Tatler” which was founded by his friend Richard Steele.

What about his journey in Italy?

The European tour (1699–1704) enabled Addison not only to become acquainted with English diplomats abroad but also to meet contemporary European men of letters.

Sanremo MilanoGenova Pavia

Verona

Padova Venezia

… From Italy Addison crossed into Switzerland, Austria, the German states, the Netherlands and then he finally went back to England in 1704.

Thanks to Addison’s help The Tatler was an undoubted success. By the end of 1710 Steele had enough material for a collected edition of The Tatler. Thereupon, he and Addison decided to make a fresh start with a new periodical. The Spectator, which appeared six days a week, from March 1, 1711, to December 6, 1712, offered a wide range of material to its readers, from discussion of the latest fashions to serious disquisitions on criticism and morality.

He devoted a considerable proportion of his essays to literary criticism, which was to prove influential in the subsequent development of the English novel.

The Spectator as a model of prose style established Addison as one of the most admired and influential masters of prose in the language.

THE SPECTATOR & THE TATLER...

THE WORKS:

-THE DRUMMER 1716

PROSE REMARKS ON SEVERAL PARTS OF ITALY 1705

A LETTER FROM ITALY 1704

- A POEM TO HIS MAJESTY 1695 - THE

TENDER HUSBAND 1705

- of political essays, The Free-Holder, or Political Essays, 1715