"Gibbon" written by means of James Cotter Morison is an in-depth biography of the eminent historian Edward Gibbon, first-class recognized for his epic work "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Morison gives readers a complete evaluate of Gibbon's lifestyles, from his early life in England to his educational aspirations and literary accomplishments. The biography appears into Gibbon's childhood, his research at Oxford University, and his prolonged travels around Europe. Morison delves into Gibbon's highbrow development and fascination with records, philosophy, and literature, which subsequently drove him to start on his big historical endeavor. Morison's storyline revolves round Gibbon's magnum opus, "The Decline and Fall," which converted the have a look at of Roman records and continues to be taken into consideration a seminal painting in the discipline. Morison examines Gibbon's method, storytelling fashion, and interpretation of historical activities, supplying perception into the writer's motivations and affects. Morison also investigates Gibbon's personal existence, consisting of his interactions with own family, friends, and coworkers, as well as his political and spiritual beliefs. Morison's diligent research and scholarly evaluation provide a brilliant portrayal of Gibbon as a complicated and multidimensional individual whose impact maintains to reverberate in the have a look at of records even today.
James Augustus Cotter Morison, an English essayist and historian, was born in London. His father, who had amassed a huge fortune as the inventor and proprietor of "Morison's Pills," lived in Paris until his death in 1840, and Cotter Morison thus gained not just knowledge of the French language, but also a deep affinity for France and French institutions. He was educated at Highgate School and Lincoln College, Oxford. Here he was influenced by Mark Pattison, to whom his receptive personality may have owed a certain over-fastidiousness that defined his entire career. He also met the main English Positivists and became a devout follower of their views. Nonetheless, he maintained a great affinity for the Roman Catholic religion and once spent several weeks in a Catholic convent. Another significant influence shows in the magnificent Life of St Bernard, which he published in 1863, that of his friend Carlyle, to whom the work is dedicated and whose style it is heavily influenced. Meanwhile, he had been a regular writer, first to the Literary Gazette, edited by his friend John Morley, and later to the Saturday Review during its most creative period.
