Starting from Bagehot’s remark that the knack in style is to write like a human being, Wilson reflects on what it means to be fully human: genuineness and simplicity, serenity and good humour, a largeness of mind that lets one enjoy the world of men and affairs. Johnson and Carlyle serve as examples along the way.
A graceful short essay from Wilson’s years as a professor at Princeton. Download the free EPUB.