George Saintsbury 
Essays in English Literature, 1780-1860 (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) 

This 1890 collection includes essays on such writers as William Hazlitt, Thomas Moore, Leigh Hunt, and Thomas De Quincy. Saintsbury clearly outlines the general characteristics of each author, always achieving an unbiased tone, as he believed opinions are not the same as judgment—and judging is the critic’s task.

A propos de l’auteur

George Edward Bateman Saintsbury (1845–1933) was an influential English critic and a highly respected authority on English and French literature. Although his scholarly work was celebrated in his lifetime, today he’s best remembered for his classic Notes on a Cellar-Book (1920), a collection of tasting notes, menus, and a tribute to wine.