Academic - Eighteenth Century Studies - History Of Journalism Pickering and Chatto Publishers are proud to announce a new series which makes available one of Daniel Defoe's greatest, but least known works, his periodical the Review of the State of the British Nation. The Review covered his many interests, both literary and historical and was published twice and latterly three times a week. The reason for the neglect of this work is due in part to the tiny original print run of just 400. Surviving runs are very rare and the condition of the originals is mainly poor. Furthermore there has not been, until now, a full critical edition. The new Pickering and Chatto edition remedies these omissions, publishing the entire run of the journal with all texts completely reset and annotated. The series as a whole provides modern readers with easy access for the first time to the whole text of the periodical, accompanied by explanatory and critical guidance which will enable them to understand and enjoy it as a literary masterpiece, and recognise its cultural and historical importance in the study of early eighteenth century Britain.Like the original Review, this edition will be published over a nine-year period. The plan is to bring out one new Defoe volume every year, divided for ease of use into two parts, but with continuous pagination. By the year 2011 the whole nine volumes of Defoe's Review will be available in a new edition of eighteen parts, the last of which will contain a consolidated index to the whole. Each volume will have an introduction, textual notes and index. The separate volume introductions set in historical context all the significant issues covered that year, and taken together form a history of the periodical from inception to close. They pay attention to the journal's readership, its influence and popularity from year to year, and the importance of Defoe's relationship with rival essayists, particularly as the latter impacted on the fortunes of the Review. The Review's coverage of early eighteenth century life is unique, partly due to its longevity; it outlasted many of the other satirical periodicals which appeared at that time. Its influence went far beyond its actual circulation figures, as great popularity and a small print run lead to widespread pirating.From a historical perspective, the Review offers a detailed, unusually colourful insight into the culture of the period. Contemporary issues and events such as Marlborough's battles against the French, the English-Scottish Union and trade in China are covered, in addition to lively stories drawn from every day experience, witty commentaries upon personalities of the day, and bantering discussions with a variety of correspondents, real or invented. Styllstically, the Review differed from rival journals like the London Gazette, in that Defoe chose not to imitate the factual approach of a newspaper but to offer a running commentary on the leading events of the day. In contrast to Defoe's usual practise of publishing anonymously, he acknowledged himself as the author of the Review and went on to exploit this fact to his own advantage by overtly bringing his own persona into the writing. This innovative projection of himself in the text made the Review an entertaining publication with a very distinct personality.Defoe's essays in the Review can be seen as the first great example of the new form of the periodical essay which emerged as a dominant genre in the early eighteenth century and reached its height in the Tatler and Spectator of Addison and Steele. Defoe's writings anticipated those works by several years and influenced them in content and style. Reading Defoe's Review takes us into the mind and art of possibly the most elusive and intriguing of all the great English writers of Queen Anne's England. Among the works of the many writers, pamphleteers and journalists who engaged in public, often heated argument, Defoe's contribution in the Review was perhaps the most sustained. Nor does its literary interest flag with the passing years. The final few numbers continue to offer the same scathing and amusing essays as the early numbers had done, and with the same verve and imagination. It was ultimately government intervention, not a decline in quality, that brought the Review to a close in 1713. 1 volume in two parts will be published per year until the edition is complete in 9 volumes of 18 parts. Contact the publisher to set up a standing order for all volumes in this series.