First published 1716
In "The Free-holder," Joseph Addison offers a series of witty, penetrating essays on the role and responsibilities of the landowning class in 18th-century Britain. Drawing on his experience as a Whig politician, Addison skewers the pretensions of the aristocracy while extolling the virtues of the independent country gentleman. With a keen eye for social satire and a gift for elegant prose, he illuminates the complex web of obligation, tradition, and self-interest that defined the nation's landed elite. At its heart, "The Free-holder" is a meditation on the delicate balance between individual liberty and civic duty – a theme that continues to reverberate in our own age of political turmoil.
Genres: satire, essays, historical-fiction, political-science, british-literature, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: social-commentary
Setting: Great Britain
Period: 1714-1727
298 pages · Hardcover · Oxford University Press