'Of Genius', in The Occasional Paper, and Preface to The Creation
Aaron HillProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019
Rating 2.0- Word count
- 92K words
- Chapters
- 10
Tags
English Originals Literary Appreciation Creative PhilosophyPower GameHuman NatureTheory of GeniusMoral DilemmaAcademic StudyIntellectual CommentaryLiterary CriticismPopular Explanation18th Century EnglandSummary
Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.'Of Genius', in The Occasional Paper, and Preface to The Creation by Aaron HillAuthor: Hill, Aaron, 1685-1750,Language: English, Class: BF: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Psychology, Philosophy, Psychoanalysis, Release Date: May 20, 2005Editor's review
This short collection of English texts brings together two pieces by the 18th-century English writer Aaron Hill: "Of Genius" from The Occasional Paper and the preface to The Creation. Hill's writing belongs to the Enlightenment current of systematic reflection on the concept of genius; his discussion is at once literary-critical and engaged with early philosophical and psychological debate, and is useful for understanding how 18th-century English men of letters viewed creativity, originality, and natural endowment. As a public-domain ebook from Project Gutenberg, it is better suited to research reading than to beginners. The language is 18th-century English, with period features in syntax and diction, and requires some patience and background knowledge. It works well in thematic reading on the history of English literature, aesthetics, or the idea of genius, and can be set against related contemporary discussions to bring out the context and thrust of Hill's argument.Who it's for
A good fit for
- Scholars and students of 18th-century English literature and aesthetics
- Readers in philosophy or literature interested in the history of the idea of genius
- Writers who need public-domain English primary texts for thematic study
- Readers accustomed to early modern English who are willing to read closely
Not a good fit for
- General beginners seeking a quick introduction to theories of genius
- Elementary English learners unfamiliar with 18th-century English usage
- Casual readers looking for plot-driven or narrative works
Reading tips
- Read the text of "Of Genius" first, then return to the preface to The Creation and note how the two pieces echo each other
- Keep pen and paper at hand to mark period usage; in long sentences, identify the main clause before working out the rest
- Read alongside a chapter on 18th-century English literary or aesthetic history to fill in the background
- Excerpt key passages around specific research questions so they can be compared with other texts
About the publisher
Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.
Contents
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FAQ
Is this a complete work or a single essay?
It is not a systematic monograph but a collection of two texts: "Of Genius" from The Occasional Paper and the preface to The Creation. It is short, closer to a selection of documents, and suited to use as primary material for thematic research.How difficult is the English? Is it suitable for non-English majors?
The text is 18th-century English, with long sentences, diction that differs from today's, and discussion of the literary and philosophical topics of the time. Non-English majors without experience of early modern English will find it hard going; it is best to build up background first.What background knowledge is needed to read these two texts?
It helps to have a basic grasp of the 18th-century English literary scene and of Enlightenment discussion of genius and creativity, and to know the place of The Creation in Western thought. With that background, Hill's targets and historical context become much clearer.This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Aaron Hill Author · English · 1685–1750Aaron Hill (1685–1750) was an English writer who worked as a playwright, poet and entrepreneur. He managed a theatre in London and edited a periodical, which kept him closely connected with the literary and theatrical circles of his day. His representative works include 'Of Genius', published in The Occasional Paper, and a preface to The Creation; the former discusses the nature of genius and literary creativity, while the latter reflects his continuing interest in poetry and religious themes. Because public information is limited, details of his personal life and the full range of his writings are difficult to set out. On the whole, his writing combines argument with literary expression, addressing abstract aesthetic questions while also serving practical publishing and stage work, and he left a certain mark on the eighteenth-century English literary scene.