<p>The occasion for this study was a need for an analysis of the success of the Gentleman's Magazine in order to place its editorial policies and practices in proper perspective. The important work of C. L. Carlson and of James M. Kuist has focussed on the magazine's editorial history from 1731-1754 and from 1754-1800 respectively, but this particular study attempts to examine the editorial function in terms of the position of the Gentleman's as a successful periodical in the eighteenth century. The study, therefore, does not pretend to be a narrative; it is analytical rather than descriptive.</p> <p>Editorial involvement in the magazine was pervasive and complex. The Introduction provides necessary background to the study. Chapter II examines editorial policy and factors affecting its formulation and successful development. Chapter III discusses the nature of the magazine as a form of periodical. Furthermore, that section examines editorial criteria, methods and general presentation of materials in order to determine their effect on the magazine itself. Chapter IV analyzes the magazine's appeal from the viewpoints of the editors and the correspondents in order to assess further the success of the Gentleman's. That chapter develops the hypothesis that, in their attempts to be successful, the editors seriously compromised their claims to impartiality by involving themselves so completely within the magazine. Finally, Chapter V concludes that the establishment and continuation of the Gentleman's as a successful magazine with its basic ideas, form, criteria and personalities did not necessarily ensure the most effective presentation of literature.</p> <p>The policies adopted by the founders of the Gentleman's generally remained stable throughout the century. To facilitate analysis of that stability the study draws specific examples from a period roughly analagous to the 1770's. However, examples throughout the magazine's history in the eighteenth century appear in order to demonstrate the unity and complexity of the whole development of the periodical. Furthermore, the stableness of the Gentleman's was the result of the efforts of individuals. Those personalities associated with the magazine were primarily interested in the continuation of its success and in its general welfare for a variety of reasons. An examination of the involvement of those people in the magazine is a study in the expression of editorial opinion which, in turn, demonstrates and accounts for the success of the Gentleman's in the eighteenth century.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/9555 |
| Date | January 1974 |
| Creators | Bryant, Robert William |
| Contributors | Morton, Richard, English |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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