William Hazlitt (1778-1830) was a prolific journalist, parliamentary reporter, dramatic and literary critic, essayist and lecturer. He was the one of the first English writers to make a profession of descriptive criticism. Tom Paulin is a poet and teaches English at Hertford College, Oxford. His recent biography of Hazlitt (Faber) was published to critical acclaim. David Chandler is a Research Fellow in English at Christ Church, Oxford.