Lamb's Friend the Census-Taker, Life and Letters of John Rickman (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Orlo Williams

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0483054348 ISBN 13: 9780483054349

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Uncover the quiet genius behind Britain’s early statistical age and the people who shaped it.

This biography examines the long life and letters of John Rickman, a modest public official who helped organize the nation’s census and population data. It weaves together his work, friendships, and the private voice that guided his public duties.

The book tracks Rickman’s rise from schooldays to his key roles in Parliament and the Census, revealing how his careful work supported essential reforms. Through diary-like letters and glimpses of his circle—Lamb, Coleridge, Southey, and others—the edition paints a vivid portrait of a man devoted to accuracy, duty, and quiet influence.

• See how Rickman shaped statistical work and the Population Returns of 1801–1840.
• Meet the circle of literary and political figures who linger in his letters.
• Explore the frontispiece portrait and the tribute that called him “an Honest Man.”
• Discover a bridge between public service and private intellect in early 19th‑century Britain.

Ideal for readers of political history, biographical letters, and the behind-the-scenes story of Parliament’s modern era. If you enjoy well‑documented lives that illuminate public life through personal correspondence, this edition will resonate.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0483054348
• ISBN 13: 9780483054349
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 367