William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt (1778–1830) was one of the greatest essayists and literary critics of the Romantic era. Born in Maidstone, England, he brought razor-sharp intellect and passionate conviction to his writing, championing the work of his contemporaries while fearlessly challenging political and social orthodoxies. His deeply personal "Liber Amoris, Or, The New Pygmalion" laid bare his obsessive, ill-fated love affair with unflinching honesty, while "The Fight" stands as a masterpiece of sports writing, capturing the raw energy of prize-fighting with vivid, electric prose. Hazlitt's influence on the personal essay and criticism remains profound and enduring.