Tomlinsoniana

"Tomlinsoniana" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton is a compilation of moral essays and principles presented as the posthumous writings of Augustus Tomlinson, a made-up professor of moral philosophy from the early 1800s. The book is structured around two parts: maxims on the common ways people cheat, shown through ten different character examples, and a series of essays called "Brachylogia", with the likely theme revolving around manipulation and morality. In the first part, Tomlinson gives clever thoughts on how people might use social rules and other’s weaknesses for their own benefit. The second part reflects on morality, fortune, following examples, and the false behavior of societal standards. Told through a mix of irony and seriousness, Bulwer-Lytton uses Tomlinson’s character to show the imperfections and complex sides of human reasons and social structures, criticizing moral philosophy with a deep understanding of human thinking and social interactions