The Spectator (periodical)

The Spectator was a popular British periodical published from 1711 to 1712, comprising daily essays that discussed politics, society, morals, and human nature. Edited by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, it aimed to entertain, inform, and promote thoughtful discussion among the middle and upper classes. Through its witty, insightful writing, The Spectator influenced public opinion, shaped cultural norms, and helped define the early 18th-century Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and civility. Its essays remain notable for their literary style and their role in expanding the era’s intellectual engagement with public life.