English essayists
An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal and informal: formal essays are characterized by "serious purpose, dignity, logical organization, length," whereas the informal essay is characterized by "the personal element (self-revelation, individual tastes and experiences, confidential manner), humor, graceful style, rambling structure, unconventionality or novelty of theme," etc.Essays are commonly used as literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author.
12 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CulturePhilosophyFellows of the Royal SocietyAnglican saintsOntologistsEnglish male poetsSocial philosophersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceSonneteersEnlightenment philosophersBurials at Westminster AbbeyCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish male non-fiction writersWriters about religion and scienceAtheist philosophersPhilosophers of law17th-century English male writers20th-century atheistsNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social scienceChristian humanistsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsPhilosophers of psychologyAristotelian philosophersBritish male essayistsEnglish AnglicansEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsEnglish male novelistsEnglish people of Scottish descentLogiciansPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of sexuality17th-century English poets19th-century atheistsAmerican male non-fiction writersCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsEnglish male short story writersEnglish non-fiction writersEpic poetsLiteracy and society theoristsModernist theatre17th-century English dramatists and playwrights17th-century English writers17th-century writers in Latin19th-century English novelists20th-century English male writers20th-century English poetsAnalytic philosophersAnglican poetsAnti-consumeristsEnglish agnosticsEnglish satiristsEnglish travel writersEnglish women poetsLiterary theoristsPeople from the City of LondonPhilosophers of technology18th-century English male writers19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English women writers19th-century English writers20th-century English novelistsAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationChristian poetsConversationalistsEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish Roman CatholicsEnglish feminist writers, English feministsEnglish short story writersEnglish socialistsEnglish women novelistsIrony theoristsMale essayistsMembers of the Order of MeritMetaphysics writersRhetoric theoristsWriters about globalizationWriters of Gothic fiction17th-century English philosophers18th-century English writers20th-century English philosophersAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAmerican male essayists, American male poetsBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersEnglish Catholic poetsEnglish LGBTQ poetsEnglish fantasy writersEnglish libertariansEnglish literary criticsEnglish people of Welsh descentEnglish philosophersEnglish political philosophersEnglish republicansEnglish writers with disabilitiesEuropean democratic socialistsFreethought writersHistorians of the French RevolutionJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersMetaphor theoristsNaturalized citizens of the United StatesNeoclassical writersScholars of feminist philosophyStreathamitesUtilitariansWriters from London18th-century British essayists18th-century British philosophers18th-century English non-fiction writers18th-century English novelists19th-century British economists19th-century English dramatists and playwrights19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers20th-century American male writers20th-century British essayists20th-century English mathematicians20th-century English non-fiction writers20th-century mysticsAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordAlumni of King's College LondonAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordAmerican lecturersAnglican philosophersArtists' Rifles soldiersBlind writersBritish MPs 1780–1784, Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituenciesBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageBritish socialistsBritish women essayistsBurials at St Pancras Old ChurchCalvinist and Reformed poetsConsequentialistsEnglish UnitariansEnglish educational theoristsEnglish emigrants to the United StatesEnglish logiciansEnglish pamphleteersEnglish political writersEnglish suffragistsEnglish women philosophersFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeFormalist poetsFounders of English schools and collegesFreemasons of the Premier Grand Lodge of EnglandGeorgistsGerman–English translatorsJerusalem Prize recipientsLinguistic turnMythopoeic writersNew Age predecessorsPamphleteersPeople educated at Westminster School, LondonPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyRoman Catholic writersTranslators of HomerTuberculosis deaths in England17th-century English educators18th-century English diarists18th-century English historians18th-century English poets18th-century English women writers18th-century lexicographers, 18th-century writers in Latin19th-century British journalists19th-century English mathematicians20th-century American essayistsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAlumni of Balliol College, OxfordAlumni of Christ's College, CambridgeAmerican LGBTQ poetsAmerican literary critics, American male dramatists and playwrightsAnglo-ScotsAnti-Catholicism in the United KingdomArchitectural theoreticiansArts and Crafts movement artistsBlind poetsBritish MPs 1774–1780British atheism activistsBritish classical liberal economistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionBritish social liberalsCritics of political economyDeaths from kidney failure in the United KingdomDeaths in childbirthDuke University facultyEnglish Anglican theologiansEnglish DissentersEnglish ProtestantsEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish autobiographersEnglish biographersEnglish children's writersEnglish humanistsEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish rhetoriciansEnglish scepticsEnglish science fiction writersEnglish sermon writersEnglish theologiansEnglish women dramatists and playwrightsFeminist theoristsFree love advocatesFrench–English translatorsGay academicsGay dramatists and playwrights, Gay poetsGodwin familyHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghInfectious disease deaths in FranceIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyLGBTQ AnglicansLost Generation writersOxford Professors of PoetryPeople educated at Eton CollegePeople from MonmouthshirePeople from Somers Town, LondonPeople with mood disordersRectors of the University of St AndrewsRhetoriciansSecular humanistsSet theoristsTory poetsUK MPs 1865–1868Universal basic income writersUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyVoting theoristsWriters about communismWriters from King's Lynn
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Aldous Huxley's dystopian 1932 novel Brave New World and its vision of a future of test tube babies, free love and round-the-clock surveillance.
9 April 2009
Featuring: David Bradshaw, Daniel Pick, Michèle Barrett
CultureEnglish agnosticsEnglish male novelistsEnglish emigrants to the United StatesAlumni of Balliol College, OxfordBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsEnglish science fiction writersEnglish essayists20th-century British essayists20th-century mysticsPeople educated at Eton CollegeEnglish male poetsEnglish short story writersJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsAnti-consumeristsPhilosophers of technologyEnglish male short story writersMale essayistsNew Age predecessorsBritish philosophers of mindLost Generation writersEnglish satiristsDuke University faculty20th-century English novelists20th-century English philosophersEnglish travel writersPhilosophers of literature20th centuryAuden
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss WH Auden's life and poetry from Europe before WWII, reflecting on his travels to Spain, China and Germany and the rise of totalitarianism.
19 December 2019
Featuring: Mark Ford, Janet Montefiore, Jeremy Noel-Tod
CultureEnglish literary criticsAmerican literary critics, American male dramatists and playwrightsEnglish emigrants to the United StatesAmerican male essayists, American male poets20th-century English non-fiction writersAmerican lecturersMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersOxford Professors of Poetry20th-century English male writersAmerican male non-fiction writersBritish male essayistsEnglish essayistsAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordFormalist poetsEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsEnglish male poetsEnglish LGBTQ poets20th-century American essayistsGay dramatists and playwrights, Gay poets20th-century American male writersAnglican poetsModernist theatreLGBTQ AnglicansAmerican LGBTQ poetsGay academicsNaturalized citizens of the United States20th-century English poetsEnglish male non-fiction writers20th centuryBertrand Russell
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the influential 20th-century British thinker Bertrand Russell, widely regarded as one of the founders of Analytical philosophy.
6 December 2012
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Mike Beaney, Hilary Greaves
PhilosophyBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyEnglish logiciansUniversal basic income writersEuropean democratic socialistsMetaphysics writersMembers of the Order of MeritEnglish anti-fascists19th-century atheistsBritish philosophers of educationEmpiricistsEnglish humanistsFree love advocatesGeorgistsBritish critics of religionsEnglish Nobel laureatesNobel laureates in LiteratureTheorists on Western civilizationBritish political philosophersPhilosophers of social scienceEnglish people of Scottish descentEnglish socialistsEnglish male non-fiction writersConsequentialistsFellows of the Royal SocietyLinguistic turnPhilosophers of sexualityRhetoric theoristsMetaphilosophersPhilosophers of loveEnglish political philosophersCritics of work and the work ethicEnglish people of Welsh descent20th-century atheists20th-century English mathematiciansPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyUtilitariansBritish atheism activistsWriters about communismLogicians19th-century English essayistsSecular humanistsPhilosophers of economicsIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyOntologistsEnglish scepticsFreethought writersCritics of the Catholic Church19th-century English philosophersBritish critics of ChristianityPeople from MonmouthshireAristotelian philosophersJerusalem Prize recipientsPhilosophers of lawEnglish prisoners and detaineesBritish philosophers of languageSet theoristsPhilosophers of technologyBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsPhilosophers of mathematicsBritish philosophers of mind20th-century English philosophers19th-century English mathematiciansAnti-nationalistsPhilosophers of literatureEnglish agnosticsBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsWriters about globalizationWriters about religion and scienceFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeEnglish essayistsAnalytic philosophersAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceWriters about activism and social changeAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgePhilosophers of historyBritish philosophers of religionBritish ethicistsAtheist philosophersUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyBritish philosophers of logicEnglish political writers19th century20th centuryEconomicsLanguageMathematicsEdward Gibbon
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and ideas of the writer of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, one of the most celebrated works of its kind.
17 June 2021
Featuring: David Womersley, Charlotte Roberts, Karen O'Brien
Culture18th-century English male writersBritish male essayistsEnglish essayists18th-century English non-fiction writers18th-century English historiansBritish MPs 1780–1784, Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituenciesBritish MPs 1774–1780Alumni of Magdalen College, OxfordFreemasons of the Premier Grand Lodge of EnglandEnglish male non-fiction writersBritish critics of religionsEnglish rhetoriciansRhetoric theoristsIrony theoristsPeople educated at Westminster School, LondonFellows of the Royal SocietyEnglish ProtestantsTheorists on Western civilization18th centuryFanny Burney
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the 18th-century writer Fanny Burney, also known as Frances D'Arblay and Frances Burney, best known for her novel Evelina.
23 April 2015
Featuring: Nicole Pohl, Judith Hawley, John Mullan
Culture19th-century English women writersEnglish essayistsEnglish women novelistsEnglish satiristsStreathamites19th-century English novelistsWriters from King's LynnConversationalistsBritish women essayistsEnglish women dramatists and playwrightsWriters from London18th-century English diarists19th-century English dramatists and playwrightsEnglish women poets18th-century English women writersEnglish pamphleteers18th-century English novelists18th century19th centuryJohn Ruskin
Melvyn Bragg discusses the life and work of John Ruskin, art and social critic, and one of the most influential figures of the Victorian era.
31 March 2005
Featuring: Dinah Birch, Keith Hanley, Stefan Collini
English philosophers19th-century British journalistsEnglish essayistsArchitectural theoreticiansArtists' Rifles soldiersAnglo-ScotsAlumni of King's College LondonAnti-consumeristsAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordEnglish fantasy writersEnglish children's writersArts and Crafts movement artistsEnglish people of Scottish descentMale essayistsCritics of political economy19th-century British economistsCritics of work and the work ethic19th centuryEconomicsJohnson
Melvyn Bragg discusses Samuel Johnson, a giant of 18th century literature, language and letters, and perhaps the most quotable Englishman to have ever lifted a pen.
27 October 2005
Featuring: John Mullan, Jim McLaverty, Judith Hawley
18th-century English male writers18th-century English writersEnglish essayistsEnglish literary criticsPeople with mood disorders18th-century lexicographers, 18th-century writers in LatinAnglican saintsStreathamites18th-century English poetsEnglish AnglicansConversationalistsMale essayistsEnglish travel writersEnglish sermon writersEnglish biographersBurials at Westminster Abbey18th centuryMary Wollstonecraft
Melvyn Bragg and guests John Mullan, Karen O'Brien and Barbara Taylor discuss the life and ideas of the pioneering British Enlightenment thinker Mary Wollstonecraft.
31 December 2009
Featuring: Karen O'Brien, John Mullan, Barbara Taylor
PhilosophyFrench–English translators18th-century British essayistsPeople from Somers Town, LondonEnglish philosophersEnglish essayistsEnglish women novelistsHistorians of the French RevolutionScholars of feminist philosophyBritish women essayistsEnglish women philosophersBritish philosophers of education18th-century British philosophersEnglish feminist writers, English feminists18th-century English historiansDeaths in childbirthEnglish UnitariansFeminist theorists18th-century English novelistsFounders of English schools and collegesGerman–English translatorsEnlightenment philosophersBurials at St Pancras Old ChurchEnglish educational theoristsEnglish travel writersWriters of Gothic fictionEnglish republicansGodwin family18th centuryFranceMill
Melvyn Bragg discusses the 19th century political philosopher John Stuart Mill and his treatise On Liberty which is one of the sacred texts of liberalism.
18 May 2006
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Janet Radcliffe Richards, Alan Ryan
PhilosophyEnglish agnosticsBritish free speech activistsPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of sexualityEnglish logiciansUK MPs 1865–1868Voting theoristsEnglish libertariansEnglish political philosophersBritish male essayistsEnglish essayistsEuropean democratic socialists19th-century English philosophersScholars of feminist philosophyInfectious disease deaths in FranceHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghBritish socialistsPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of psychologyEnglish feminist writers, English feministsAnglo-ScotsEmpiricistsBritish philosophers of languageUtilitariansEnglish autobiographersBritish philosophers of mindRectors of the University of St AndrewsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of scienceEnglish non-fiction writersPhilosophers of historyBritish social liberals19th-century English non-fiction writersLogiciansBritish ethicistsBritish political philosophers19th-century English writers19th-century English essayistsBritish philosophers of logicPhilosophers of economicsEnglish political writersEnglish people of Scottish descentEnglish socialistsEnglish male non-fiction writersBritish classical liberal economistsEnglish suffragistsEnglish republicansConsequentialists19th centuryEconomicsLanguageMedicinePsychologyMilton
Melvyn Bragg examines the literary and political career of the 17th century poet John Milton, examining work such as Paradise Lost as well as his role as propagandist during the English Civil War.
7 March 2002
Featuring: John Carey, Lisa Jardine, Blair Worden
Critics of the Catholic ChurchChristian humanistsBritish free speech activistsNeoclassical writersRhetoricians17th-century writers in Latin17th-century English writersMythopoeic writersRhetoric theoristsEnglish Anglican theologiansLiteracy and society theoristsBlind poetsEnglish political philosophersEnglish essayistsEpic poets17th-century English poetsEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsMetaphor theoristsWriters about activism and social changeChristian poetsSonneteersEnglish male poetsCalvinist and Reformed poetsDeaths from kidney failure in the United KingdomAnglican philosophersAnglican poetsBlind writersAnti-Catholicism in the United KingdomMale essayistsWriters from LondonPeople from the City of London17th-century English male writersEnglish writers with disabilitiesEnglish non-fiction writersLiterary theoristsBritish philosophers of religionEnglish DissentersAlumni of Christ's College, Cambridge17th-century English educatorsEnlightenment philosophersSocial philosophersPamphleteersEnglish educational theorists17th-century English philosophers17th-century English dramatists and playwrightsEnglish theologiansEnglish republicans17th centuryTheologyPope
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the satirist Alexander Pope. One of the greatest poets of the English language, his brilliant satires have made him popular in our age but not in his own.
9 November 2006
Featuring: John Mullan, Jim McLaverty, Valerie Rumbold
18th-century English male writersBritish male essayistsEnglish essayists18th-century English non-fiction writersTranslators of HomerTuberculosis deaths in England18th-century English poetsEnglish Catholic poetsNeoclassical writersTory poetsFreemasons of the Premier Grand Lodge of EnglandEnglish Roman CatholicsEnglish male non-fiction writersPeople from the City of LondonEnglish male poets18th-century British essayistsRoman Catholic writers18th centuryWilliam Hazlitt
Melvyn Bragg and guests Jonathan Bate, Uttara Natarajan and AC Grayling discuss the life and works of William Hazlitt.
8 April 2010
Featuring: Jonathan Bate, A. C. Grayling, Uttara Natarajan