Res Judicatæ: Papers and Essays

"Res Judicatæ: Papers and Essays" by Augustine Birrell is a compilation of essays from the end of the 1800s, presenting Birrell's thoughts on literary icons like Samuel Richardson and Edward Gibbon. Through his writing, Birrell takes us into the worlds of these important writers, exploring their lives, their writings, and the things that influenced them, mixing stories from their lives with a close examination of their work. Birrell starts with the difficulties in truly understanding people as he introduces Samuel Richardson, pointing out that people are often split on Richardson's books. He talks about how Richardson is unfairly judged because he was a printer, even though his books like "Pamela" and "Clarissa" are full of feeling and very real. Birrell explains how Richardson didn't follow the usual writing rules of his time, and how his life and books show a new way of telling stories that focuses on feelings and doing what's right.