‘The History of the world is but the Biography of great men.’
What makes a hero? In this bold and provocative series of lectures, Thomas Carlyle traces the enduring influence of heroic figures in religion, literature, and leadership. Rejecting abstract systems and mass politics, Carlyle explores the power of great individuals to shape world history and argues that these individuals are the true drivers of change. As the foundational work of the Great Man theory of history, On Heroes is a passionate defense of character, vision, and brilliance as the true engines of progress—an idea that remains influential to this day.
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish historian, essayist, and philosopher. He was highly influential on the intellectual and artistic culture of the Victorian era.