This book comprises a fascinating exploration and analysis of 'the act of recreational reading', being a general survey of the pursuit - and those who have engaged in it, from the earliest period to modern day. This volume is highly recommended for those with a keen interest in the importance of reading, and includes a wealth of historical information and unique insights into the development, popularity, and societal ramifications of the practice. William Carew Hazlitt (1834 - 1913) was an English writer, editor, and lawyer. His father was the barrister and registrar William Hazlitt, his grandfather the writer and critic William Hazlitt, and his great-grandfather the author and minister by the same name. Many vintage texts such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.