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Talk:Thomas De Quincey

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 12.71.155.26 (talk) at 10:35, 14 July 2009 (Capitalization: new section). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The English sounds rather old-fashioned. Did you write it? If not, is it old enough to be out of copyright? Can you give credit to the author anyway? (if it isn't you). Thanks!! -- Marj 07:37 Dec 29, 2002 (UTC)

Quote

Does anyone have a reference for the qoute from his schoolteachers from Bath please? 87.65.205.164 18:53, 22 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Criticism

Have there been any criticisms of his influence on the world, given that his books glorified opium and murder?Lestrade 13:19, 30 November 2006 (UTC)Lestrade He did not exactly glorify murder, but he knew that accounts of it sold well. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.160.202.155 (talk) 12:46, 10 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There were complaints that, in de Quincey's description, the pleasures of opium seemed to out-weigh the pains. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.160.202.155 (talk) 10:18, 11 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

His pernicious effect continues to be felt. The world would have been a better place if he had never lived.Lestrade (talk) 12:27, 26 September 2008 (UTC)Lestrade[reply]

Criticism

The biography portrays De Quincey in such a manner that he seems grim and heavy hearted. And while many aspects of his life were hard, this seems to misrepresent the nature of De Quincey. A completely different sense of the man is found in the short introductory bio of De Quincey found in volume 5 of Gateway to the Great Books edited by Robert M. Hutchins, Mortimer J. Adler and published by Encylopǣdia Britannica, Inc. William Benton Publisher, 1963. For example:

De Quincey moved from one rented room to another, each so full of books and papers that he could hardly turn around in it. He loved both solitude and society, and could never get enough of either. He had a great fondness for the human race in all its varieties, and the human race repaid him in kind. His children were enchanted with him. His friends found him a delightful companion. If there had been no creditors in the world, De Quincey might have been that monster of nature, a completely happy man. [p. 356.]

And while this sketch may paint an overly rosy picture of De Quincey, it certainly calls into question the dour feeling evinced by the current biography. e.gajd Canada 04:45, 18 October 2007 (UTC) [reply]

Capitalization

When using his last name by itself, is it proper to capitalize the "de", or to leave it in lowercase (as in similar words like "di", "du", "zu", "von", "of", etc.)? 12.71.155.26 (talk) 10:35, 14 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]