Hazlitt

WILLIAM HAZLITT (1778 - 1830)

Hazlitt travelled to Edinburgh via Newcastle early in 1822 in order to obtain a divorce. His marriage had already broken down, but the divorce was precipitated by his notorious and embarrassing infatuation with Sarah Walker, a supposed worthless coquette less than half his age. Hazlitt stopped off at the Renton Inn, near Berwick and drafted the 'conversations' which form the first part of his remarkably frank, indeed lurid, account of his obsession, Liber Amoris, published in 1823. The Literary Register called it 'Silly Billy's Tomfoolery' and dismissed it as 'indecent trash'. John Bull devoted three issues to reviews, spoofs and comments on the book. All in all, the business was a total humiliation for Hazlitt, and no doubt for Sarah, who found herself trailed through the press as a 'pert, cunning, good-for-nothing chit' and a 'dowdy trollop'.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
WILLIAM HAZLITT (1778 - 1830) Hazlitt travelled to Edinburgh via Newcastle early in 1822 in order to obtain a divorce. His marriage had already broken down, but the divorce was precipitated by his notorious and embarrassing infatuation with Sarah Walker, a supposed worthless coquette less than half his age. Hazlitt stopped off at the Renton Inn, near Berwick and drafted the 'conversations' which form the first part of his remarkably frank, indeed lurid, account of his obsession, Liber Amoris, published in 1823. The Literary Register called it 'Silly Billy's Tomfoolery' and dismissed it as 'indecent trash'. John Bull devoted three issues to reviews, spoofs and comments on the book. All in all, the business was a total humiliation for Hazlitt, and no doubt for Sarah, who found herself trailed through the press as a 'pert, cunning, good-for-nothing chit' and a 'dowdy trollop'.
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