The 1700s was an amazing century for books and ideas. This time is often called the Age of Enlightenment because writers and thinkers believed that reason and science could make the world better. It was also when the novel - long story books like we know today - was first invented!

What Made the 1700s Special for Writing?

During the 1700s, more people learned to read than ever before. Writers started creating new types of stories, especially novels that told the adventures of ordinary people. Writers also used humor and satire to point out problems in society and government. This was a time when people believed education and smart thinking could solve the world’s problems.

Famous Authors and Their Best Works

Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)

Defoe wrote one of the first adventure novels in English. His stories felt so real that many people thought they were true!

Best Work: Robinson Crusoe (1719) - The story of a man stuck alone on an island who learns to survive.

Famous Quote:

“All our discontents about what we want appeared to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.”

This shows how Crusoe learned to be grateful for simple things during his time alone on the island.

Learn more about Daniel Defoe on Wikipedia

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Swift was a master of satire - using humor to criticize society and politics. His writing was funny but also made serious points about human behavior.

Best Work: Gulliver’s Travels (1726) - A story about a man who visits strange lands with tiny people, giants, and talking horses.

Famous Quote:

“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.”

Swift meant that people are quick to see problems in others but slow to see their own faults.

Learn more about Jonathan Swift on Wikipedia

Voltaire (1694-1778)

Voltaire was a French writer who fought for freedom of speech and religion. He used wit and humor to challenge powerful people and unfair laws.

Best Work: Candide (1759) - A funny but dark story about a young man learning that the world is not as perfect as his teacher told him.

Famous Quote:

“Common sense is not so common.”

This simple quote shows Voltaire’s frustration that people often don’t use good judgment, even when the right answer seems obvious.

Learn more about Voltaire on Wikipedia

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

Johnson was famous for creating the first major English dictionary and for his wise sayings about life and literature.

Best Work: A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) - The most important English dictionary for over 150 years.

Famous Quote:

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

This quote shows Johnson’s love for city life and his belief that London offered every experience a person could want.

Learn more about Samuel Johnson on Wikipedia

Henry Fielding (1707-1754)

Fielding helped create the modern novel by writing long, detailed stories about realistic characters and their adventures.

Best Work: Tom Jones (1749) - The story of a young man’s journey to find love and discover who he really is.

Famous Quote:

“A good face they say, is a letter of recommendation.”

Fielding often wrote about how people judge others by appearance rather than character - a theme that appears throughout his novels.

Learn more about Henry Fielding on Wikipedia

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

Rousseau was a French philosopher who wrote about education, government, and human nature. His ideas helped inspire the American and French revolutions.

Best Work: The Social Contract (1762) - A book about how governments should serve the people, not the other way around.

Famous Quote:

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

This powerful quote meant that people are naturally free, but society and bad governments take away their freedom.

Learn more about Jean-Jacques Rousseau on Wikipedia

Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

Pope was the greatest English poet of his time, known for his clever rhymes and sharp wit. He wrote poems that made fun of society’s problems.

Best Work: The Rape of the Lock (1712) - A funny poem that treats a small social incident (someone cutting off a lock of hair) as if it were an epic battle.

Famous Quote:

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”

This famous line means that making mistakes is natural for humans, but forgiving those mistakes is godlike.

Learn more about Alexander Pope on Wikipedia

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Franklin was an American writer, inventor, and political leader. He wrote popular books full of practical wisdom and clever sayings.

Best Work: Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732-1758) - A yearly book full of weather predictions, calendar information, and wise sayings.

Famous Quote:

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

This shows Franklin’s belief in practical wisdom and good habits for successful living.

Learn more about Benjamin Franklin on Wikipedia

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774)

Goldsmith wrote gentle, warm stories about country life and simple people. His writing was kind and optimistic during a time when many writers were harsh critics.

Best Work: The Vicar of Wakefield (1766) - A story about a kind country pastor and his family’s adventures and misfortunes.

Famous Quote:

“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”

Goldsmith believed in taking action rather than just wishing for things to happen.

Learn more about Oliver Goldsmith on Wikipedia

Laurence Sterne (1713-1768)

Sterne wrote in a completely new way, creating funny, strange novels that jumped around in time and made fun of traditional storytelling.

Best Work: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759-1767) - A very unusual novel that starts with the main character’s birth but then goes off on hundreds of funny side stories.

Famous Quote:

“I live in a constant endeavour to fence against the infirmities of ill health, and other evils of life, by mirth.”

Sterne used humor to deal with life’s problems, which shows in his playful, optimistic writing style.

Learn more about Laurence Sterne on Wikipedia

Thomas Gray (1716-1771)

Gray was a quiet poet who wrote some of the most beautiful and famous poems in English, especially about death and the passage of time.

Best Work: Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1751) - A thoughtful poem about life and death, inspired by walking through a country cemetery.

Famous Quote:

“The paths of glory lead but to the grave.”

This line reminds us that no matter how famous or successful someone becomes, everyone eventually dies.

Learn more about Thomas Gray on Wikipedia

William Blake (1757-1827)

Blake was a poet and artist who created mystical, spiritual poems with his own illustrations. He was ahead of his time and not well-known until after his death.

Best Work: Songs of Innocence and Experience (1789-1794) - Two collections of poems that contrast childhood innocence with adult knowledge of the world’s problems.

Famous Quote:

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand / And a Heaven in a Wild Flower / Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand / And Eternity in an hour.”

This shows Blake’s belief that spiritual truth and beauty could be found in the smallest, most ordinary things.

Learn more about William Blake on Wikipedia

Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Burns wrote beautiful poetry in Scottish dialect about love, nature, and common people. He celebrated ordinary life and Scottish culture.

Best Work: Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (1786) - A collection that made him famous throughout Britain.

Famous Quote:

“O my Luve is like a red, red rose / That’s newly sprung in June.”

This is from his most famous love poem, showing his gift for simple but perfect comparisons.

Learn more about Robert Burns on Wikipedia

Why These 1700s Authors Still Matter

The writers of the 1700s created many things we still use today. They invented the modern novel, developed new forms of poetry, and showed how writing could change society. Many of their books are still popular because they wrote about timeless human experiences - love, adventure, growing up, and trying to understand the world.

Their work also helps us understand how modern democracy and freedom developed. Many 1700s writers fought for free speech, religious tolerance, and fair government - ideas that became the foundation of modern societies.

What Made 1700s Writing Special?

1. Birth of the Novel: Writers like Defoe and Fielding created the long story format we know today.

2. Reason and Logic: Authors believed that clear thinking could solve problems and improve life.

3. Social Criticism: Many writers used humor and satire to point out society’s problems.

4. Everyday Heroes: Stories started focusing on ordinary people rather than just kings and nobles.

5. Practical Wisdom: Writers like Franklin shared useful advice for daily life.

6. Religious Tolerance: Many authors argued that people should be free to believe what they wanted.

The Different Types of 1700s Writing

Early 1700s (1700-1740): The novel was invented, and writers like Defoe and Swift created adventure stories and satires.

Mid-1700s (1740-1770): Writers like Richardson and Fielding perfected the novel form, while philosophers like Rousseau wrote about politics and society.

Late 1700s (1770-1800): Poets like Gray and Blake began moving toward more emotional, nature-focused writing that would become Romanticism.

Follow-Up Resources

Books to Read First

• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - An exciting adventure story that’s easy to follow
• Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift - Funny and imaginative, especially the parts about tiny people
• Candide by Voltaire - Short, funny, and full of adventure
• Selected poems by Robert Burns - Beautiful love poems and songs

Online Resources

• The 18th Century Collections Online - Original texts from the 1700s
• The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page - Famous quotes and sayings
• Project Gutenberg - Free downloads of all these classic books
• Enlightenment Overview - Background about the Age of Reason

Documentaries and Videos

• Search for “Age of Enlightenment” documentaries
• “The Birth of the Novel” - educational videos about how novels developed
• Biography documentaries about Voltaire, Franklin, and Samuel Johnson

Museums and Places to Visit

• The Samuel Johnson House in London
• Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia
• Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Scotland
• Voltaire’s home at Ferney (now Ferney-Voltaire, France)

University Courses Online

• Many universities offer free online courses about 18th-century literature
• Look for courses on “The Enlightenment” or “The Age of Reason”
• Search for lectures about the development of the novel

Fun Facts About 1700s Books

• Robinson Crusoe was so popular that people thought it was a true story!
• Samuel Johnson’s dictionary took him 9 years to write, working mostly alone
• Voltaire spent time in prison for making fun of powerful people
• Gulliver’s Travels was immediately popular with both children and adults
• Benjamin Franklin became one of the most famous Americans in Europe through his writing

The 1700s gave us the foundation for modern literature and many of the freedoms we enjoy today. These writers proved that books could entertain, educate, and even change the world. Start with any author who interests you - their ideas are still fresh and exciting today!

Happy reading! The 1700s were full of brilliant minds who used words to light up the world with new ideas and unforgettable stories.