Essays by addison

Though Addison contributed to The Tatler much less than Steele, yet he soon overshadowed his friend. Of the 271 numbers, 188 are Steele's and 42 Addison's; 36 of them were written by both jointly. The rest were penned by others like Tickell and Budgell.

Through stories, such as "Jilts and their Victims", "Country Festival", "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Knowledge and Time", and "Reasons" Addison and Steele show what they know about life and the power they had publishing it. The two men met at a young age at the Charter House School in England where from their they became the best of friends.

Steele had not informed Addison of his design, but if he desired to write in secret he was not lucky; a single month detected him and Addison's first contribution appeared on May 26. Though Addison contributed to The Tatler much less than Steele, yet he soon overshadowed his friend.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719) and Richard Steele (1672-1729) are the founders of the modern English essay as well as modern English prose. Both Steele and Addison aimed at easy and free flowing expression and that was the style the 18 th century needed with the expansion of England’s trade and industry.