Henry Gally: A Critical Essay on Characteristic-Writings from His Translation of the Moral Characters of Theophrastus (1725)

Henry Gally's 'A Critical Essay on Characteristic-Writings' was first published in 1754 as an introduction to his translation of Theophrastus's 'Moral Characters.' This essay analyzes the conventions of characteristic writing, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in representing human nature. Gally critiques contemporary writers for their superficial portrayals and advocates for a return to the natural style exemplified by Theophrastus, arguing that effective character writing should capture the complexities of human behavior.