The History of John Bull (eBook)

John Arbuthnot (1667–1735) was a Scottish mathematician, physician, and satirist, best remembered for his contributions to the literature of the Augustan age. Educated at the University of Aberdeen and later on at the University of St. Andrews, Arbuthnot moved to London where he became a fellow of the Royal Society. His friendships with fellow writers, such as Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, placed him at the heart of the era's literary circles. Arbuthnot is perhaps most notable for his work 'The History of John Bull' (1712), which has been regarded as a seminal piece in the development of satirical fiction. The character John Bull became the archetypal Englishman, a symbol still recognized today, used by Arbuthnot as a means to critique the political complexities of his time, including the War of the Spanish Succession and the Whig and Tory divide. His literary style combines erudition with a sharp wit, utilizing the mock-heroic form to great effect. Arbuthnot's legacy as an author is ensconced in the clever blending of humor with serious commentary, a method that would influence satirists for centuries to come.