Thomas Carlyle

Thomas Carlyle came from a strict Calvinist family, but he lost his faith while attending the University of Edinburgh and decided not to become a preacher as his parents intended. Instead, Carlyle became a philosopher and writer, writing articles, essays, novels, and nonfiction books on philosophy, politics, and history. Some of his most notable works include the three-volume historical tome, The French Revolution: A History, and the novel Sartor Resartus. Carlyle’s style was characterized by satirical critique, combined with a religious temperament (though he rejected traditional Christianity), and his works were influential on satire in literature as well as the development of socialist thought.