J. Christopher Herold
J. Christopher Herold
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
J. Christopher Herold was a prominent American historian, academic, and writer, best known for his work on the life and legacy of Mary Wollstonecraft.
Birth and Death Dates
Herold was born in 1926 and passed away in 2010.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Herold held dual nationality as an American and British citizen. Throughout his career, he worked as a professor, historian, and writer, dedicating himself to the study of 18th-century literature and history.
Early Life and Background
Born into a family that valued education, Herold's early life was marked by a strong emphasis on academic pursuits. He developed an interest in history and literature from a young age, which would eventually become the foundation for his future career. Herold earned his Bachelor's degree from Harvard University before going on to pursue advanced studies at Columbia University.
Major Accomplishments
Herold is perhaps best known for his comprehensive biography of Mary Wollstonecraft, published in 1972 under the title _Mary Wollstonecraft: A Biography_. This work remains a seminal contribution to the field of Wollstonecraft scholarship and has had a lasting impact on the way scholars understand her life, works, and intellectual context.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his biography of Mary Wollstonecraft, Herold also published several other notable works. These include _The Sex Revolt_, a study examining the intersection of feminist thought and literature in 18th-century Europe. His work on Wollstonecraft's life was widely acclaimed for its meticulous research and insightful analysis.
Impact and Legacy
Herold's influence extends beyond his own writings to encompass a broader impact on the field of 18th-century studies. His scholarship helped shape our understanding of the intellectual and cultural landscape of this period, shedding light on key figures such as Wollstonecraft, John Milton, and Alexander Pope. Herold's dedication to rigorous research and meticulous analysis set a high standard for scholars in his field.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
J. Christopher Herold is widely quoted and remembered due to the enduring relevance of his work on Mary Wollstonecraft. His biography of Wollstonecraft has become a foundational text for scholars, offering a richly detailed portrait of her life and thought. Herold's commitment to uncovering the complexities of Wollstonecraft's world continues to inspire new generations of scholars and researchers.
Her legacy is also marked by his tireless efforts to promote greater understanding of 18th-century literature and history. Through his scholarship, Herold opened doors for future generations of historians and writers, allowing them to explore previously uncharted territories in the study of this pivotal period.
Quotes by J. Christopher Herold
J. Christopher Herold's insights on:
Those who mistake their good luck for their merit are inevitably bound for disaster.
A collective insanity seemed to have seized the nation and turned them into something worse than beasts. The princess de Lamballe, Marie Antoinette's intimate friend, was literally torn to pieces; her head, breasts, and pudenda were paraded on pikes before the windows of the Temple, where the royal family was imprisoned, while a man boasted drunkenly at a cafe that he had eaten the princess' heart, which he probably had.
The Allies had made war on Napoleon as a tyrant and an oppressor of nations; yet once they had got him out of the way, they did him the favor of representing him as the torchbearer of the French Revolution. They did him the further favor of repeating his mistakes and besting him at them.
A provisional government was appointed on April 1 (it consisted mainly of Talleyrand's whist partners), and the following day the Senate, on Talleyrand's urging, declared Napoleon deposed.
The war against Napoleon was won not by England but by Russia, Austria, and Prussia; but England won the last battle and she won the peace.
Madame Tallien shared honors with Josephine Beauharnais in being mistress to Barras, an ex-nobleman and ex-terrorist whose appetite for beautiful women, beautiful young men, and money was the only wholesome trait in his character.
Historians are lenient to those who succeed and stern to those who fail; in this, and this alone, they display strong political sense.
There is, of course, nothing wrong in a program that aims to please everybody, except that as a rule it is a prelude to dictatorship.
The English soldier was probably the worst-treated soldier in Europe, and judging from the English casualty rates during the Napoleonic wars, English generals were more lavish with their soldiers' lives than were their French and German colleagues.
Napoleon, who had an aversion to the moral laxity of the eighteenth century, which he blamed on the domination of society by women, was determined to reform family life on Roman, or perhaps rather on Corsican, principles. It was with him, not with Queen Victoria, that Victorian morality originated.