Thomas Carlyle

Through his friend John Stuart Mill, the English philosopher Thomas Cariyle became interested in the French Revolution and set to work on a monumental history. After five months of difficult work on this project, Cariyle completed the first volume and left it with Mill for criticism. While in Mill’s possession, the manuscript was accidentally burned by a maid lighting a fire. Mill was appalled when he discovered the loss and rushed to Carlyle’s house nearly frantic with grief. Cariyle did not utter a word of reproach but tried only to console his friend. After Mill had left, he said to his wife, “Mill, poor fellow, is terribly cut up. We must endeavor to hide from him how very serious this business is for us.” The three volumes of The French Revolution were finally published in 1837. The book was immediately successful. The days of struggle were over, and Cariyle took his place as a leading English writer. His other books followed one another at intervals of two to five years. Cariyle had a few “messages” that he continually repeated. He affirmed that work of all kinds is dignified and sacred. He thought that men must renounce personal happiness to obtain peace of mind. He believed that the world must be governed by “heroes” – strong, just men, and consequently he felt that people should put their faith in such men and not in democracy. In his own day, Cariyle exerted a strong influence on other writers, but today few people read Cariyle for what he had to say. The majority read his books for their majestic style and their revealing flashes of his highly individual personality.