Lately there has been much discussion at Of Books and Bicycles about 18th century literature. As I am familiar primarily with 20th and some 19th (I seem to be reading more novels in this period at the moment) century literature, my interest has been (once again) piqued by this discussion. I know in the past I have read some books by 18th century authors (I read Gulliver's Travels as well as a few other works by Swift in high school--surely there must be other things?), but I can't think of anything in the recent past that I have read, which was written in this time period.
I have also been thinking of what I read and how I read (yes, I am a somewhat obssessive person at times, I admit...and lately on this topic) since I have been blogging. Blogging about books has changed how I approach them to a certain degree. While I will always read whatever sounds appealing to me and read books for pleasure, I do want to try and fill in the many gaps I have in my "reading education"--not sure really what to call it. I wonder why or how I made it so far without, for example, ever having read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (which I finally did this year). Last year I finally read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by the Bronte Sisters. These are wonderful books--there is a reason why they have endured so long in their popularity. I have an idea of what I am missing now, which is why I have been so interested in "the classics" in the past couple of years. I even found this timeline of English Literature (it is quite basic and many famous works have been left off, but just seeing the various periods helps me put things a bit more in perspective).
What this all boils down to is I have added a few more books to my TBR pile. Thanks to Dorothy for her recommendations on good 18th century novels. I want to start with Oroonoko by Aphra Behn. Behn lived quite an interesting life. Aside from the fact she earned her keep as a writer (considered the first woman to do so), she led a most interesting life (she was even a spy for Charles II). Just by chance, when I was looking for essays in the lit section of my library, I came across two early American novels The Power of Sympathy and The Coquette by William Hill Brown and Hannah Webster Foster. These are written in the epistolary form, which appears to be quite common for this period. I also found in my own stacks, Susanna Rowson's Charlotte Temple, which per the book description was America's first "bona fide bestseller". While Oroonoko was published in 1688, the three American novels are from later in the 1700s. I am curious if all writing of this period is essentially morality tales. Certainly the descriptions for the American novels makes them sound as though they are (thinking of those Puritans--perhaps it shouldn't be surprising). Anyway, more adventures in reading...
Edited: I meant to mention in this post that it is interesting also to see the influence of a particular author on another author's work. I am currently reading (and greatly enjoying) The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. One of the narrators, a servant in the household from which the Moonstone is stolen, finds Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe to be the most exceptional book he has ever read:
"I am not superstitious; I have read a heap of books in my time; I am a scholar in my own way. Though turned seventy, I possess an active memory, and legs to correspond. You are not to take it, if you please, as the saying of an ignorant man, when I express my opinion that such a book as ROBINSON CRUSOE never was written, and never will be written again. I have tried that book for years—generally in combination with a pipe of tobacco—and I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad—ROBINSON CRUSOE. When I want advice—ROBINSON CRUSOE. In past times when my wife plagued me; in present times when I have had a drop too much—ROBINSON CRUSOE. I have worn out six stout ROBINSON CRUSOES with hard work in my service. On my lady's last birthday she gave me a seventh. I took a drop too much on the strength of it; and ROBINSON CRUSOE put me right again. Price four shillings and sixpence, bound in blue, with a picture into the bargain."
The editor of this edition of The Moonstone has gone into great deal discussing the many themes found in this book. I am saving the introduction for after the novel, so I am looking forward to seeing how it all ties together. I did glance at some of the Amazon reviews of this book, and I wonder if some of the negative ones have to do with applying 21st sensibilities to a book written in the 19th century? And it would have been 18th century authors and works that Collins might be responding to or formed by. I think it can be very helpful to know the context that a book was written in. And I wonder if this may have an effect on the pleasure or dislike of a book?