The Spectator: with Sketches of the Lives of the Authors, and Explanatory Notes

A complete eight volume set of The Spectator, with biographical notes about the authors, smartly bound in full calf. An eight volume set in full calf bindings, with gilt detailing to the spines.Ink inscriptions to the front paste downs by the Rev. Charles J. Plumptre, Wickham Rectory, Kent. Bookplate to the front free end paper. The Spectator was a daily publication founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, originally running from 1711 to 1712, and collected in seven volumes. The paper was revived for six months in 1714, forming the eighth volume. This is a new edition of these eight volumes, published 1816, with sketches of the lives of the authors, including Sir Richard Steele, Joseph Addison, Eustace Budgell and many more. In this edition, an attempt was made to note the author of each piece. Index to the rear of each volume.The goal of The Spectator was 'to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality'. One of its functions was to provide readers with educated, topical talking points, and advice on how to conduct social interactions in a polite manner. It became a major publication for the spread of Enlightenment ideas, and was one of the first to appeal directly to a female readership. Addison estimated that during its initial run, about a tenth of London's population were readers of the publication. In full calf bindings. Externally smart with rubbing to the extremities. Small marks to the boards of Volume I, IV and V. Splitting to the front joint of Volume VIII. Splitting to the head of the front joint to Volume I and VII, and to the tail of the rear joint to Volume VII. Backstrip lifting to the tail of the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean except for the odd spot to the first and last few pages. Tidemarks to the lower corner of the pages to Volume VII and VIII. Good. …