- The Retrospective Review was an English literary periodical published from 1820 to 1828.
- It was founded by Henry Southern, later joined by Nicholas Harris Nicolas as co-editor.
- The journal focused on Early Modern English literature and is regarded as a precursor to academic literary criticism.
- In the 1850s, publisher John Russell Smith revived the title and later launched the Library of Old Authors series (1856).
Retrospective Review was an English periodical published from 1820 to 1828. It focused on Early Modern English literature and is considered an early example of academic literary criticism. The journal provided reviews and analyses of works from the 16th and 17th centuries and included contributions from notable scholars of the time.
Editors and Contributors
- Henry Southern – founder and editor until 1826, also contributed articles.
- Nicholas Harris Nicolas – co-editor with Southern from 1827 to 1828.
Other contributors included George Frederick Beltz, James Crossley, Charles Wentworth Dilke, William Ford, Basil Montagu, William Johnson Fox, John Hamilton Reynolds, William Stevenson, and Thomas Noon Talfourd.
Publication and Themes
The journal focused on literary criticism of earlier English works, aiming to provide scholarly reviews and historical context. It played a role in shaping methods of literary analysis that would later be used in academic criticism.
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Decline and Revival
After 1828, The Retrospective Review ceased publication. Its editors moved on to other projects, and the periodical was not continued in its original form. In the 1850s, publisher John Russell Smith revived the title, although the new edition had different contributors and a broader focus. In 1856, Smith launched the Library of Old Authors series, which reprinted works by early English writers and contributed to preserving their literary legacy.
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Legacy
Although its publication span was relatively short, The Retrospective Review left a mark on English literary criticism by providing structured, scholarly analysis of earlier works. Its revival and connection to Smith’s Library of Old Authors helped ensure that the study of Early Modern English literature continued to influence later generations of scholars.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Retrospective Review was an English literary periodical published between 1820 and 1828, focusing on Early Modern English literature.
It was founded by Henry Southern, who also served as editor until 1826. Later, Nicholas Harris Nicolas became co-editor (1827–1828).
The title was revived in the 1850s by publisher John Russell Smith, who also launched the Library of Old Authors series in 1856.
The journal is considered one of the early attempts at academic literary criticism and influenced the study of Early Modern English literature.
References
- The Retrospective Review (1820-1828). Catalog record. HathiTrust. catalog.hathitrust.org
- “Library of Old Authors (London: John Russell Smith, 1856-57)”, The Atlantic, April 1858. The Atlantic
Expanded history section: cessation after 1828, revival by John Russell Smith, later series Library of Old Authors.