Chatterton: A Story Of The Year 1770 (1874)

Chatterton: A Story of the Year 1770 is a historical novel written by David Mather Masson and first published in 1874. The book tells the story of Thomas Chatterton, a young English poet who lived in the late 18th century and died at the age of 17. The novel is set in Bristol, England, and follows Chatterton's life as he struggles to make a name for himself as a writer in a society that values social status over talent.The story is told through the eyes of several characters, including Chatterton himself, his friend and mentor William Barrett, and the wealthy merchant Sir Herbert Croft. The novel explores themes of creativity, ambition, class struggle, and the role of art in society.Chatterton is portrayed as a brilliant but troubled young man who is determined to succeed as a writer despite his lack of social status and connections. He is shown to be a master of deception, forging documents and passing them off as authentic works of medieval literature in order to gain recognition and support from the literary establishment.As the novel progresses, Chatterton's mental state deteriorates, and he becomes increasingly isolated and desperate. The book culminates in his tragic suicide, which is depicted in vivid and heartbreaking detail.Overall, Chatterton: A Story of the Year 1770 is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of art, society, and the human condition. It is a must-read for anyone interested in English literature, history, or culture.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.