Essays

"Essays" by Winthrop Mackworth Praed is a compilation of writings collected by Sir George Young, which shares Praed's clever and humorous thoughts on different subjects. These writings look at what people do and how society is set up with a funny and slightly mocking attitude. Drawing from his life and skills as a writer, Praed often compares different types of individuals within social settings, resulting in essays that amusingly study people. Two contrasting characters, Charles and Jonathan, that represent the excitement versus the down-to-earth views on country living, open the collection. This sets the stage by showing how our point of view changes how we see things. Through these characters, the essays gently question what society expects of us while pointing out the good in both having big dreams and being sensible, sparking interest in topics like art and politics.