Watts (1817-1904) (ePub)

William Loftus Hare was an English biographer and critic, most notably known for his work on the life and philosophy of Alaric Watts. His seminal biography 'Watts (1817-1904)' offers not just a minutely detailed account of Watts's life but also delves into the broader canvas of 19th-century English literature and the literary circles of the time. Hare's writings are characterized by their incisive critical analysis and comprehensive research, which is reflective of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods' focus on rigorous scholarship. Although not as widely remembered today, Hare's contribution to literary biography provided valuable insights into Victorian cultural life and the operation of literary networks. His narrative style was marked by erudition, fluency, and a careful concern for linking the subject's personal biography with larger intellectual trends. Hare's work on Watts is particularly notable for its evaluations of the poet's contributions as a literary editor and critic, affirming the significance of seemingly peripheral figures in shaping the course of English literature. Despite the scholarly nature of his works, Hare managed to impart a certain readability to his prose, which ensured that his books found an audience both within academic circles and amongst the general reading public interested in the literary heritage of England.