The Present Time - Imperium Press (Studies in Reaction)
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In The Present Time, Carlyle takes aim at modernity. This essay was, even in its time, seen as so blistering that the Southern Literary Messenger described its contents as "purely monstrous, and the most elaborate argument would not place their monstrosity more clearly before the reader, than the simple enunciation of them." We present it here with another of Carlyle's essays.
Carlyle influenced not only fascism but socialism, and in The Modern Worker he grants the worker his essential nobility and savagely critiques laissez-faire economics. He folds his anti-capitalism into the critique of modernity given in The Present Time-whatever system man places himself under, it must conform to "a set of conditions already voted for, and fixed with adamantine rigour by the ancient Elemental Powers."
As Carlyle is known for coinages and obscure references, this volume offers a comprehensive glossary of terms. For many readers, this will be the first time they have fully grasped this titanic intellect.
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Victorian-era Scottish author, philosopher, and historian. Raised by a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle abandoned his career with the clergy in 1821 after losing his faith, focusing instead on writing. Carlyle went on to publish such noted works as Life of Schiller, Sartor Resartus—which was inspired by his crisis of faith, and The French Revolution, and became one of the most prominent writers of his day. Carlyle’s later works included Heroes and Hero-Worship and Frederick the Great. Carlyle passed away in 1881.
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