Carlyle was impotent. This is the most important fact about him, personal or public. He did not realise his condition until he got married — Froude tells the tragic story of Carlyle thrashing a flower bed to shreds the morning after his wedding. For the rest of his life, that anger never really left him.
I have read little Carlyle but I thought one was supposed to read The French Revolution and I thought he was a genius. I heard Hugh Trevor-Roper say he was a proto-fascist.
Jane was not faultless in the marriage. Both were people who probably should not have married. I forget who said it, but there is that rather cruel remark, something to the effect that it was good that TC and JWC were married to each other, so that only 2 people, not 4, were made miserable. The marriage aside, TC was a great man, and a strong case can be made that he is the greatest English-language virtuoso who has ever lived.
I have read little Carlyle but I thought one was supposed to read The French Revolution and I thought he was a genius. I heard Hugh Trevor-Roper say he was a proto-fascist.
This is just brilliant. Absolutely amazing writing.
Thanks for reminding me of that one, as I'd been meaning to get it.
Jane was not faultless in the marriage. Both were people who probably should not have married. I forget who said it, but there is that rather cruel remark, something to the effect that it was good that TC and JWC were married to each other, so that only 2 people, not 4, were made miserable. The marriage aside, TC was a great man, and a strong case can be made that he is the greatest English-language virtuoso who has ever lived.